THE OFFICIAL RULES OF THE
UNITED STATES CROQUET ASSOCIATION
REVISED 2006
Printing of this rulebook was paid for
by the Croquet Foundation of America.
Copyright © 2006 United States Croquet Association
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be
reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in
any form or by any means (electronic, electrostatic, magnetic
tape, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise)
without prior permission of the USCA.
In Memoriam
This edition of the United States Croquet Association
Rulebook is dedicated to the memory of John Taylor,
USCA instructor, National Referee,
and a great friend of croquet.
Players around the world benefit from Taylor’s List*
and Tournament Directors benefit
from John’s Excel© workbooks.
The USCA Rules Committee is especially appreciative
of John’s many years of service on that committee.
We will miss his clear thinking, institutional knowledge,
historical insight, and organizational skills.
* http://www.wcfcroquet.org/List/johntaylorlist.htm
TABLE OF CONTENTS
FOREWORD – 2006 EDITION ................................................ 1
INTRODUCTION TO SIX WICKET CROQUET ......................... 4
An Outline of the Game .................................................. 4
How Play is Made ............................................................. 4
The Turn ........................................................................... 4
Strategy .............................................................................. 5
Croquet Customs and Court Etiquette ............................ 6
Sportsmanship ................................................................... 7
Dress Code ......................................................................... 7
Courtesy to Players .......................................................... 7
Presence on Court ............................................................ 8
Interference with a Shot .................................................. 8
Spectators .......................................................................... 9
Advice .............................................................................. 1 0
Replacing Balls and Placing Clips ................................. 1 0
Calling Faults ................................................................... 1 0
Questionable Shot ........................................................... 1 1
When Players’ Opinions Differ .................................... 1 1
Referees ........................................................................... 1 1
Conclusion of the Game ................................................ 1 2
Detrimental Behavior .................................................... 1 2
The Standard Court ....................................................... 13
Court References ............................................................ 1 3
The Standard Setting ...................................................... 1 4
Modified Court Size and Setting .................................... 1 4
Equipment ...................................................................... 14
The Wickets .................................................................... 1 4
The Stake ........................................................................ 1 5
The Balls .......................................................................... 1 6
The Mallet ....................................................................... 1 6
Court Accessories ........................................................ 17
Clips ................................................................................. 1 7
Deadness Board ............................................................... 1 7
Clocks .............................................................................. 1 8
Corner Flags .................................................................... 1 8
Check Fences .................................................................. 1 8
SIX WICKET CROQUET ....................................................... 19
Part 1. Object of the Game and Starting ...................... 19
1.1 Start ........................................................................... 1 9
1.2 Clips ........................................................................... 2 0
1.3 Order of Play and Starting Area ............................. 2 0
Part 2. The Turn ........................................................... 22
2.1 The Turn .................................................................. 2 2
2.2 Court Damage ........................................................... 2 2
2.3 Aiming Aids ............................................................... 2 3
2.4 Cleaning Ball ............................................................ 2 4
Part 3. Mallet Use ......................................................... 24
3.1 Mallet Use ................................................................. 2 4
3.2 Striking Period and Shot ......................................... 2 4
Part 4. Scoring a Wicket .............................................. 25
4.1 Scoring a Wicket ...................................................... 2 5
4.2 Clearing Deadness by Running a Wicket ............... 2 6
4.3 Ball at Rest ............................................................... 2 6
4.4 Beginning the Wicket ............................................. 2 6
4.5 Dead on Ball in Wicket ........................................... 2 7
4.6 Dead on Ball Beyond Wicket ................................. 2 7
4.7 Wicket in the Wrong Direction ............................. 2 7
Part 5. Balls In and Out of the Game ........................... 28
5.1 Balls In and Out of the Game ................................. 2 8
5.2 Deadness Between Balls In and Out of the Game 2 8
5.3 Ball Not In the Game .............................................. 2 8
5.4 Lifting Balls In and Out of the Game .................... 2 9
5.5 Scoring Wicket and Hitting a Ball Not In the Game 2 9
Part 6. Shots ................................................................ 30
6.1 Continuation Shots .................................................. 3 0
6.2 Roquet Shots ............................................................. 3 1
6.3 Wicket and Roquet .................................................. 3 2
6.4 Croquet Shots ........................................................... 3 3
6.5 Ball in Hand .............................................................. 3 4
Part 7. Dead Ball ........................................................... 34
7.1 Deadness .................................................................... 3 4
7.2 Ball Cannoned .......................................................... 3 4
7.3 Special Relief from Deadness ................................. 3 5
Part 8. Out of Bounds .................................................. 36
8.1 Ball Out of Bounds ................................................... 3 6
8.2 Out of Bounds Defined ............................................ 3 6
8.3 Ball Replacement ..................................................... 3 7
8.4 Opponent Replacing Ball ........................................ 3 9
Part 9. Blocking and Wiring .......................................... 39
9.1 Responsible for Position ......................................... 3 9
9.2 Blocking Wicket ...................................................... 4 0
9.3 Wired Ball ................................................................. 4 1
9.4 Wiring Lift ............................................................... 4 3
Part 10. Rover and Finishing the Game ....................... 43
10.1 Rover ....................................................................... 4 3
10.2 Stake Out ................................................................ 4 3
10.3 Rover Deadness ...................................................... 4 4
10.4 Winning .................................................................. 4 5
Part 11. Errors in Play .................................................. 45
11.1 Out of Turn Play ................................................... 4 5
11.2 Wrong Ball Faults .................................................. 4 8
11.3 Dead Ball Faults ..................................................... 4 8
11.4 Interference with a Ball ........................................ 4 9
11.5 Mallet Faults ........................................................... 5 0
11.6 Misplaced Balls ...................................................... 5 2
11.7 Incorrect Information .......................................... 5 3
Part 12. Claims and Penalties ...................................... 53
12.1 Limit of Claims ...................................................... 5 3
12.2 Penalties ................................................................. 5 4
Part 13. Tournament Play and Timed Games ............... 54
13.1 Tournament Director ............................................ 5 4
13.2 Referee’s Role ........................................................ 5 5
13.3 Intervention ........................................................... 5 6
13.4 Resetting Equipment ............................................. 5 7
13.5 Referee Not Available ............................................ 5 8
13.6 Appeals .................................................................... 5 8
13.7 Time Limits ........................................................... 5 9
13.8 Shot and Game Clocks .......................................... 6 0
13.9 Time-Outs .............................................................. 6 1
13.10 Match Time ......................................................... 6 1
13.11 Last Turn .............................................................. 6 2
13.12 Missing Player ..................................................... 6 2
Part 14. Double Banking ............................................... 63
14.1 Marking Balls ......................................................... 6 3
14.2 Interference Between Games ................................ 6 4
14.3 Court Etiquette ...................................................... 6 5
14.4 Interference Time-Outs ........................................ 6 5
Part 15. Handicap Play ................................................. 66
15.1 Bisques ..................................................................... 6 6
15.2 Half Bisques ............................................................ 6 7
15.3 Doubles .................................................................... 6 7
15.4 Singles ..................................................................... 6 8
15.5 Base Method Handicap Play ................................ 6 9
Part 16. Shortened Games .......................................... 69
16.1 Fourteen Point Game ............................................ 6 9
Part 17. Experimental Rules ......................................... 70
17.1 Immediately in the Game ..................................... 7 1
HANDICAP POINT SYSTEM ................................................ 72
GLOSSARY ........................................................................ 74
INDEX .................................................................................. 87
FOREWORD – 2006 EDITION
The Six Wicket Croquet rules include a number of
significant, but non-substantive, changes such as reducing
redundancies, reordering of some material, improvements
in wording and style consistency, inclusion of the individual
rules in the table of contents, and a new numbering system
for the rules. The handicap point system description has
been updated to the latest version wherein every sanctioned
game involves the gain and loss of at least one tracking
point. More substantive changes are given below; numbers
in square brackets are the corresponding rule numbers in
the previous edition.
1.3d Order of Play and Starting Area [3]
Starting with an opponent’s ball is specified as a wrong ball
fault.
3.2a Striking Period and Shot [12a]
The beginning of the striking period is more fully defined.
6.2 Roquet Shots [27]
Following a roquet, the striker ball remains in play and is
ball in hand at the conclusion of the shot.
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9.1 Responsible for Position [27b(3), 40b-c]
A single new rule defines responsibility for a ball’s position.
9.2 Blocking Wicket [20]
Blocks, and responsibility for them, are more clearly defined.
All blocks must be announced.
11.6 Misplaced Balls [50, 51]
Failing to take croquet is added to the misplacement list
and the list is made non-exhaustive. Faults and the limit of
claims are detailed.
[54d]
The rule requiring freezing of the deadness board following
a dead-ball fault is eliminated.
13.4 Resetting Equipment [new rule]
Improperly set equipment may be reset. If a ball becomes
stuck in an improperly tight wicket, the shot may be
replayed.
13.9a Time-Outs [60a]
Three time-outs are allowed at any point during the game.
13.11a Last Turn [62a]
Tournament rules may specify that the final ball in last turn
not play past the point when the side has won.
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15.1a(2) Bisques [69a(2)]
A continuation shot is not required before taking a
continuation bisque.
15.5 Base Method Handicap Play [new rule]
An alternative method of calculating bisques by subtracting
a fixed number from handicaps is allowed.
16.1 Fourteen Point Game [new rule]
A 14-point game is allowed.
17.1 Immediately in the Game [experimental]
The “Multiple Last Turns” experimental rule is eliminated.
A new experimental rule puts balls fully in the game
immediately.
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INTRODUCTION TO SIX WICKET CROQUET
An Outline of the Game
How Play is Made
Play is made by striking a ball with a mallet. The player so
playing is called the striker, and the ball that is struck, the
striker ball. The striker may never hit an adversary ball with
the mallet. By striking the striker ball, the striker may cause
it, or any other ball it hits, to move and/or to score a point.
The Turn
The players play each
turn in the order of blue,
red, black, and yellow.
A player is initially
entitled to one shot in
a turn, after which the
turn ends unless the
striker ball has scored
a wicket point or hit
another ball. When a
wicket is scored, the
striker is entitled to play
BASIC TYPES OF CROQUET SHOTS
Drive
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Stop
Roll Pass Roll Take-off
one additional or continuation shot. When another ball
(whether opponent’s or partner’s) is hit by the striker ball,
the striker is said to have made a “roquet” on that ball and
the striker ball is entitled to two extra shots and becomes
“dead” on that ball.
The first of these two shots is known as the “croquet” shot,
and is made after placing the striker ball in contact with the
roqueted ball. The second shot is the continuation shot.
If, in the croquet shot, the croqueted ball is sent off the
court or the striker ball is sent off the court without first
having made another roquet, the turn ends.
During a turn, each ball the striker ball is “alive” on may be
roqueted once, and the striker ball may make another roquet
on each ball provided that since last roqueted, the striker
ball has scored a wicket point for itself and has thus cleared
itself of its “deadness”. Thus, by a series of shots, roquets,
croquets, and continuation shots (after a croquet shot or
scoring a wicket), it is possible to make many points during
one turn. Such a series is known as “making a break”.
Strategy
Along with the objective of scoring the 26 points first, each
side should employ offensive or defensive moves that
restrict the progress of the opponents.
The primary offensive tactic is to use as many balls (both
partner’s and opponent’s) as possible to set up what is
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called a “break”, then score as many wicket points in one
turn as possible. By skillful placement of two or three other
balls at forward wickets, a player can make all twelve wickets
in one “all round break” during the turn. This optimum feat
in croquet is the equivalent of a grand slam home run or no
hitter in baseball.
Defensive tactics include separating the opponent’s balls,
thus forcing long shots to roquet other balls, or knocking
the opponent out of position to make its next wicket
(particularly when that ball is dead on its partner’s ball). An
opponent who is dead on two or three balls and can be kept
that way has lost considerable advantage.
Defensive strategy frequently involves one side’s balls
joining at the boundary line away from their opponents (to
avoid providing them an opportunity to develop a break for
their side). This move often baffles spectators, since it
appears no one is attempting to make wickets. It is often the
case of discretion being the better part of valor. All tactical
decisions involve weighing the risk of each move (in terms of
each player’s ability) against the reward if the move succeeds.
To many, this is the essential challenge of croquet
Croquet Customs and Court Etiquette
The following customs and court etiquette, while not
warranting specific penalties, should be considered as
helpful to the conduct and enjoyment of the game of
croquet for everyone and as important as the numbered
rules of play. Should a conflict exist with the numbered
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rules, the numbered rules shall prevail. Remember, croquet
is a sport and as such should be enjoyed by all players as a
sport played by gracious losers and winners.
Sportsmanship
USCA croquet is a game that should be played with good
sportsmanship as the foremost attitude of how a player
approaches the game. The paragraphs of this section
help describe some of the ways which players should
play the game and conduct themselves while playing the
game. If a specific incident is not covered in the rules,
then the spirit of good sportsmanship should be
considered in addressing the situation. Players should
strive to play by the rules of the game and not try to
circumvent the ethics and the morality of the rules of the
game.
Dress Code
Croquet players customarily wear all white apparel on court.
In all USCA titled events, such apparel is expected. The
tournament director must approve any exceptions.
Courtesy to Players
Courtesy should be extended to one’s opponent(s) as
well as to one’s playing partner at all times. Players
should respect each other’s playing abilities and
opinions, and treat an opponent or partner in the same
fashion that they would expect to be treated themselves.
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The striker must plan and play shots throughout a game
with reasonable dispatch.
Presence on Court
In the interest of good sportsmanship, players should avoid
any behavior that distracts a striker attempting a shot. This
conduct applies to the opponent, and in a double-banked game
to the players in the other game, especially when stepping
onto the court to start a turn. Only the striker shall be on the
court; all other players shall remain outside the boundaries,
except in doubles when a partner may come on the court
momentarily to indicate a spot or help place a ball for a croquet
shot. However, the partner must leave the court immediately
after the task is finished. Players should not be in the striker’s
line of sight, cross through the line of aim, or make noises or
sudden movements that break the striker’s concentration.
This conduct is even more important during double banked
games so that interference with the other game is avoided.
See Part 14 for further information concerning double
banked games.
Interference with a Shot
A player must not interfere with any ball while a shot is
in progress. All balls are in play until the shot is over
and must be allowed to completely cross the boundary
or come to a complete stop before being touched by any
player or equipment. The only exception to this situation
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occurs when a roquet is made and the roqueted ball is clearly
not going to affect any other ball or go out of bounds. In this
case, the striker ball may be stopped and given to the striker
so that the croquet shot may be taken.
A player must not interfere with the boundary string during a
shot. A player may move, stand on, or have a partner stand on
the string so that the striking of the striker ball is not interfered
with. The four corner flags should be at least 4 inches outside
the boundary string and may be temporarily removed so as
not to interfere with the striker’s stance or swing.
Spectators
Players should avoid listening to any audible comments
from spectators about the game. A player may ask a
spectator a question about a point of fact only if the
opponent has given consent.
A player should not take advantage of any previously
unnoticed error or omission to which his attention is drawn
by the comments or attitude of the spectators.
Spectators should avoid distracting or having conversations
with deadness boardkeepers or shot clock keepers.
Boardkeepers and clock keepers are an important part of the
game and concentration on their task is important to the integrity
of the game. Their concentration is especially important in the
last minutes of a game as the pressures of the game in progress
can be greatly intensified. If spectators see any errors (i.e., out
of turn, clip placement, etc.), they may bring it to the
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attention of an official. Care should be taken that doing so
does not constitute giving advice to a player.
Advice
No player is entitled to advice from anyone other than one’s
partner when playing doubles. It must be a matter of
conscience how a player acts after receiving unsolicited
information or advice. Warning a player who is about to
run a wrong wicket or play the wrong ball constitutes advice.
Replacing Balls and Placing Clips
All players should ensure that all balls are, as required, correctly:
a) placed in bounds where they went out of bounds,
b) placed on the nine inch line, and
c) replaced after a fault.
It is the responsibility of each player when scoring a point
for any ball to remove the clip immediately and at the end of
the turn to place all clips moved on the correct wicket.
Calling Faults
The rules provide that a fault or misplay shall be called
by any player as soon as it is observed (rule 12.1). This
includes the striker calling any fault committed,
regardless of adverse consequences to the striker’s game.
During a game, the players are the referees unless a third
party (preferably a currently certified referee) is called to
watch a questionable shot, and therefore have an
-10-
obligation to the game and the opponent to call any faults
that they commit.
Questionable Shot
If a striker is about to attempt a shot of which either the
legality is in doubt, or the result may not be clearly apparent
(i.e., a possible fault, when aiming at a ball in or near a
wicket, or a long stakeout), the striker should call a referee
to watch the shot. If the striker does not call the referee, the
opponent may request the referee watch the shot. (See rule
13.6 for appeals.)
When Players’ Opinions Differ
When players’ opinions differ about ball replacement after
a ball has been moved, the player who caused the ball to
move replaces the ball but defers to the opponent as to the
exact position. When the question is whether a roquet was
made on a ball, or whether the roqueted ball moved on the
croquet shot, the opponent defers to the opinion of the
striker. If there are any reliable witnesses, the players may
consult them in order to resolve the differences, but only if
both teams agree to do so.
Referees
Players should avoid verbal confrontations with each other
by expressing their legitimate concerns to the referee.
The USCA has a program to certify players as referees
and a certified referee should be called to watch
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questionable shots or to resolve disputes over the rules
(see Part 13). A referee is called by raising the mallet above
the head or, if necessary, by calling out “referee”.
If an opponent believes a striker is making repeated faults
such as “pushing” or “double tapping” or failing to move
the roqueted ball in a croquet shot, the referee may be
summoned to watch subsequent shots (rule 13.2b).
Whatever the rules provide, it is a matter of conscience
how a player uses the referee. It is not good sportsmanship
to harass an opponent’s concentration with an unnecessary
call for the referee to watch a shot.
A striker should call a referee to watch the stake to confirm
a rover’s attempt to hit the stake if the distance of the shot
requires a referee.
Conclusion of the Game
The winner of a game is responsible for removing the balls and
clips (but not before the final score is agreed upon) from the
court at the end of the game. This should be done expeditiously
especially during a double banked game. When double
banking, players should get off the court quickly so as not to
interfere with the other game. All players should shake hands
with the opponents and thank the time and boardkeepers.
Detrimental Behavior
Courtesy and good sportsmanship are expected of all
players and officials at all times. Players are under an
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obligation to avoid acts that may be considered detrimental
to the game of croquet. For example, players should not:
a) audibly swear at a player, official, or spectator,
b) use obscene, abusive, or insulting language or gestures, or
c) throw a mallet or hit a ball in protest or anger.
Any spectator or player who abuses an official or player, or
interferes with the game will be warned and directed by the
Tournament Director to desist. If the abuse or interference
continues, the person may be directed to leave the tournament
area. In a case of flagrant abuse, the directive to leave may
be given without a warning. Any such instance should be
reported to the USCA Grievance Committee.
The Standard Court
The standard court is a rectangle, measuring 35 by 28 yards
(105 by 84 feet). Its boundaries shall be marked clearly, the
inside edge of the definitive border being the actual boundary.
Nylon string (#18) stapled or otherwise affixed to the ground
is recommended for use as the boundary lines.
Court References
The four corners of the court are known respectively as
Corners 1, 2, 3, and 4. The four boundaries are known as
South, West, North, and East boundaries - regardless of
the orientation of the court (figure 1).
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The Standard Setting
The stake shall be set in the center of the court. The wickets
shall be set parallel to the North and South boundaries, the
centers of the two inner wickets, 21 feet to the north and south
of the stake, the centers of the four outer wickets, 21 feet from
their adjacent boundaries. This is the preferred court size and
should be the official setting for major tournaments.
Modified Court Size and Setting
Should the area be too small to accommodate a standard
court, a modified court may be laid out in accordance with
the above by using a smaller modified length unit and by
maintaining the same proportions of five units long by four
units wide For example, units of ten feet could be used to
set the court dimensions. Thus 40 feet wide by 50 feet long
with the stake in the middle at the intersection of the two
diagonals is a possible setup. The corner wickets are 1 unit
(10 feet) from their adjacent boundaries. The center wickets
are 1 unit (10 feet) in each direction from the stake. Local
conditions may require other layouts, but the size above is
generally considered the minimum for this game.
Equipment
The Wickets
The wickets shall be of round iron,inch diameter and of
uniform thickness. They shall be 125/8 inches in height
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above the ground, measured from the ground to the top
of the crown of the wicket, vertical, and firmly fixed.
The crown shall be straight and at right angles to the
uprights. The distance between the inside of the uprights
for normal play shall not be less than 311/16, nor more than
4, inches apart; for tournament play, not more than 3¾
inches; and for National Championship play a 1/16 inch
greater than the diameter of a ball in use on that court, with
a maximum upward tolerance of 1/32 inch. All wickets on
any court should be of the same dimensions.
The wickets shall be painted white, the crown of the first
wicket colored blue and that of the last wicket, which is
known as the rover wicket, red.
The Stake
The stake has a uniform diameter of 1½ inches and a height
of 18 inches above the ground and may be made of any
suitable material. It shall be vertical, solid, and firmly fixed
in the ground. It shall be white with blue, red, black, and
yellow bands descending in that order from the top. The
first 6 inches above the ground shall be white. There may
be a detachable extension on top of the stake. It shall be
about ½ inch in diameter and 6 inches in length. It is designed
to hold clips and shall be detachable from the top of the
base.
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The Balls
Croquet balls shall be colored respectively blue, red, black,
and yellow. Balls to be used in USCA Titled National,
Regional, Sectional, District, or State events shall have been
approved by the World Croquet Federation. The size of
these balls shall be 35/8 inches in diameter with a milled
surface and of even weight, not less than 15¾ ounces, nor
more than 16¼ ounces. For these USCA titled events, all
balls shall, when dropped from a height of 60 inches onto a
2-inch steel plate imbedded in concrete, rebound to a height
of not less than 30 inches nor more than 45 inches. All balls
within a set must not vary in rebound by more than three
inches. Faulty or damaged balls may be changed during
play. For all USCA sanctioned events, the manufacturer
and model of the balls to be used should be included in the
entry forms distributed to players prior to the event.
The Mallet
The head of the mallet shall be of wood or any other material,
provided that the player shall gain no advantage over wood.
Metal may be used for weighting or strengthening. The
two end faces shall be parallel, perpendicular to the bottom,
and must have identical playing characteristics and not have
a playing advantage over a head made entirely of wood.
There may be a beveled edge that shall not be considered
as part of the face.
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Court Accessories
The following accessories should be supplied for guidance,
convenience, and decoration. The accessories do not form
part of the setting of the court. Accordingly, any such
accessories impeding a striker may be temporarily removed.
Clips
There is one clip for each ball: blue, red, black, and yellow.
The function of the clips is to indicate the state of the game
on the court. The clip corresponding with that ball shall
distinguish the next wicket or the stake in order for every
ball at the beginning of every turn.
Deadness Board
In order to aid the
contestants
(and
spectators)
in
identifying balls
which have deadness,
a board approximately
2’ high x 3’ wide is
In the example above, blue is dead on red,
used with the four ball
red is dead on yellow and blue, black is
dead on blue, and yellow is dead on blue
colors permanently
and black.
affixed in proper
sequence vertically on the left side and 12 colored
squares (three each of the four ball colors) painted or
affixed to the background with white squares which can
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be moved to expose or reveal the background colored
squares. These colored squares are arranged in horizontal
rows next to the vertical column on the left side of the board.
The horizontal rows are laid out in the same order as the
four colors descending on the vertical column. The white
squares can be moved so as to cover or uncover the colored
squares to show a ball’s deadness.
Clocks
Games may be played with time limits (normally an hour ten
minutes to two hours); a “game clock” is used to measure
this. A “shot clock” may be used to limit a player’s time to
shoot to 45 seconds.
Corner Flags
Flags colored blue, red, black, and yellow shall be placed in
corners l, 2, 3, and 4, respectively. The flags shall be mounted
on staffs about one foot high. The staffs shall be at least 4
inches from the boundary. These are used primarily as an
aid in judging distances and are not essential to the game.
Boundary string should not be attached to the staff of the
corner flag; it should be attached in the corner separately.
Check Fences
A check fence high enough to arrest the progress of balls
may be placed around the outside of the court at least one
yard outside the boundary.
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SIX WICKET CROQUET
Part 1. Object of the Game and Starting
1.1 Start
a) The game is played
between two (2) sides.
One side plays blue and
black while the other side
plays red and yellow.
1) Singles is played with
one (1) player on
each side, (i.e. one
plays blue and black,
the other plays red
and yellow).
Figure 1: Court Layout, Order and
2) Doubles is played with
Direction of Play
two (2) players on
each side, (i.e. each player plays one ball
throughout the game).
b) The object of the game is for a side to make each ball on
the side score the 12 wicket points and the stake point,
a total of 26 points, before the opponent. See figure 1 for
the order and direction the wickets must be scored.
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c)
A coin toss determines the playing order. The side
winning the toss has the choice of playing first and
third with blue and black or second and fourth with red
and yellow.
1.2 Clips
a) At the beginning of the game the four
colored clips are placed on the crown of
the #1 wicket. When a ball scores a
wicket, the striker shall remove the
appropriate clip and, at the end of the
turn, place it upon the next wicket or stake Figure 2: Clip
Placement
to be scored by that ball. When the stake
is scored, the clip is removed from the
court. The first six wickets are distinguished by placing
the clip on the crown of the wicket, the last six by
placing it on one of the uprights (figure 2). A rover
ball’s clip is placed on the top of the stake.
b) Any player, referee, or assigned official must call
attention to a misplaced clip as soon as it is observed.
The clip shall then be properly placed to prevent
incorrect information as defined in rule 11.7.
c) Clips and other court accessories such as corner flags
and deadness boards may be temporarily removed
when they impede the striker’s shot.
1.3 Order of Play and Starting Area
a) Play shall begin with the blue ball followed by red,
black, and yellow (the order of colors descending on
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the center stake) and that shall be the proper order of
play until the game ends or a ball stakes out, in which
case the remaining balls continue in the proper order
of play (e.g. if yellow stakes out, the order becomes
blue, red, black, blue, red, black, etc.).
b) Refer to figure 3:
Each ball shall
begin play from
anywhere in a
starting
area
which is three feet
Figure 3: The Starting Area
south of the #1
wicket, parallel to the south boundary, 16¼ inches
wide, and is equally divided by a line that passes
through the center of the wicket.
c) If a ball cannot be placed in the starting area due to the
presence of other balls, it shall be placed up to nine
inches east or west of the starting area.
d) If the striker places an opponent’s ball in the starting
area and strikes it, the striker has played the wrong ball
(rule 11.2) and the striker’s turn ends. In addition, the
opponent’s ball played in error is removed from the
court, all other balls are replaced in the positions they
were at the beginning of the turn and the striker shall
place the correct ball anywhere in the starting area.
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Part 2. The Turn
2.1 The Turn
a) Each player is entitled to one shot at the start of a turn,
after which the turn ends unless the striker ball earns
an additional shot(s) by:
1) scoring a wicket (rule 6.1), or
2) roqueting another ball (rule 6.2).
b) A player’s turn begins when the previous player’s turn
ends. The player’s turn ends when:
1) the shot clock expires,
2) a shot is completed with no croquet or continuation
shot earned,
3) a fault is committed, or
4) the player intended to strike the ball but missed it entirely.
c) A player may pass a turn or shot. To pass, a player
shall declare audibly to the opponent the color of the
ball playing and the intention to pass. Once the
announcement has been made, the turn has finished
and may not be replayed. A player who passes out of
turn has played out of turn.
2.2 Court Damage
a) Players may pick up or move any loose impediments
from the court surface. Some examples include worm
casts, leaves, nuts, twigs, and similar material. Players
may not pull out or press down anything growing on
the court surface.
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b) The striker may not move any ball because of an
inequity on the court surface unless the inequity
constitutes special damage. Some examples of special
damage include old wicket holes, irrigation heads, in
need of repair or improperly repaired divots or scars,
and worn out areas on the corner spots or between the
uprights of a wicket. The normal hazards of an
indifferent court do not constitute special damage.
c) With the consent of the opponent and/or official,
special damage may be repaired or balls may be moved
no more than is necessary to avoid the special damage
or boundary restrictions but never to the advantage of
the striker. When any ball is moved, the striker must
also move any other ball likely to be affected by the
next stroke so as to maintain their relative positions,
provided that such a ball is not in a critical position.
After the shot, all balls moved to avoid playing on
damaged areas should be moved back the same relative
distance before the next shot unless they were moved
as a result of the shot.
2.3 Aiming Aids
a) In singles, a striker may not place an outside aid (i.e., a
coin or leaf) inside or outside of the court to assist in
aiming.
b) In doubles, a player may indicate a spot (i.e., by foot,
mallet, or a finger) for the partner to shoot at, but must
remove the aid before the shot is taken.
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2.4 Cleaning Ball
A striker may mark and lift a ball to wipe it clean at any time
during the striker’s turn, and shall advise the opponent
before doing so.
Part 3. Mallet Use
3.1 Mallet Use
a)
A striker shall strike the ball with either striking face of
the mallet. If the striker strikes the ball with the adjacent
edge, beveled edge or corner of the striking face, it
shall not be deemed a fault unless the striker’s swing is
hampered (rule 11.5a(1)). If a fault does occur the
penalty is end of turn and replace balls (rule 12.2a).
b) A player may not change mallets during a turn except
in the case of damage affecting its use.
3.2 Striking Period and Shot
a)
The “striking period” begins when a striker starts the
backswing, with intent to strike the ball, and ends at the
conclusion of the follow through. When the striker
repeatedly swings or casts the mallet over the ball, the
backswing starts when the mallet head has passed the ball
on the final backswing the striker intends to make before
striking the ball. If the striker deliberately interrupts the
swing after the striking period has begun, and before the
mallet reaches the ball or a fault is committed, the striker
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has not made a shot and may begin the striking period
again.
b) A “shot” (stroke) begins when the striker’s mallet
contacts the ball and ends when all balls set in motion
by the striker have stopped rolling or have crossed a
boundary.
Part 4. Scoring a Wicket
4.1 Scoring a Wicket
A wicket is scored as
shown in figure 4.
a) The front of a wicket
as a ball about to
score the wicket in
the proper order and Ball A has not started to score the wicket.
d i r e c t i o n Ball B has started to score the wicket.
Ball C has not scored the wicket.
approaches it shall Ball D has scored the wicket.
be
called
the
Figure 4: Scoring a Wicket
“playing side” of the
wicket and the
opposite side shall be called the “non-playing side”.
b) A ball scores a wicket point when it passes through
a wicket in the proper order and direction (figure 1)
and comes to rest clear of the plane of the playing
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c)
side unless the ball had made a legal roquet (rule 6.2)
prior to making the wicket.
A ball about to score a wicket begins to score the wicket
when it breaks the plane of the non-playing side of the
wicket. It completes the scoring of the wicket if it comes
to rest clear of the playing side.
4.2 Clearing Deadness by Running a Wicket
When a ball (not a rover ball) scores a wicket, it is cleared of
all deadness and is “alive” on all other balls that have scored
the #1 wicket. If a rover ball is dead on two or three balls it
may run any wicket in any direction to clear deadness and
earn a continuation shot but will maintain last deadness on
the last ball it hit (rule 10.3).
4.3 Ball at Rest
a) If a ball “at rest” moves, the ball is replaced and any
effect after the movement is invalid.
b) A ball is at rest if it appears to be motionless and:
1) its position has been agreed upon by the striker and
the opponent,
2) its position has been adjudicated by an official,
3) the striker has taken a stance for the next shot, or
4) the striker has indicated the turn has ended.
4.4 Beginning the Wicket
a) If a ball is on the non-playing side of its wicket, it may
be played through the wicket for position on the
playing side, providing it comes to rest clear of the
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plane of the non-playing side before being played back
through the wicket to score a point (figure 4).
b) A striker may take croquet (rule 6.4) from a ball in a wicket.
If the striker ball is in position to score the wicket on the
croquet shot, the striker may do so, if no part of the
striker ball is breaking the plane of the non-playing side
of the wicket when the striker ball is placed in contact
with the ball in the wicket.
4.5 Dead on Ball in Wicket
A striker ball that is dead (rule 7.1) on a ball encroaching
into the striker’s wicket, shall not hit that ball at any time
when scoring the wicket. The penalty is end of turn and
replace balls (rule 12.2a). The striker may perform a jump
shot to score a blocked wicket or stake but must not hit the
blocking ball at any time during the shot (except after hitting
the stake when staking out).
4.6 Dead on Ball Beyond Wicket
A striker ball that is dead on a ball lying beyond, not encroaching
into, the striker’s wicket may hit that ball while attempting to
score the wicket, but must score the wicket on that shot in order
to receive a continuation shot (rule 6.1). If the striker ball does
hit the dead ball but fails to score the wicket, it is the end of the
turn and the balls are replaced. (rule 12.2a)
4.7 Wicket in the Wrong Direction
A ball passing through a wicket in the wrong direction
shall not receive credit for that wicket or receive a
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continuation shot. A rover ball that has 2 or 3 ball deadness
can earn a continuation shot by going through any wicket
in any direction (rule 10.3).
Part 5. Balls In and Out of the Game
5.1 Balls In and Out of the Game
A ball that has not scored the #1 wicket is known as a ball
“not in the game”. A ball that has scored the #1 wicket is
known as a ball “in the game”.
5.2 Deadness Between Balls In and Out of the Game
A striker ball not in the game is considered dead on all balls
in the game. A striker ball in the game is considered dead on
all balls not in the game. However, a striker ball that is in the
game cannot be blocked (rule 9.2) or wired (rule 9.3) by a
ball that is not in the game.
5.3 Ball Not In the Game
a) A striker ball not in the game shall have only one shot
per turn, unless it scores the #1 wicket and earns a
continuation shot under rule 6.1a.
b) A striker ball not in the game may hit any other ball that
is not in the game, but no roquet is made. If the other
ball is peeled through the #1 wicket that ball is then in
the game but is not entitled to a continuation shot.
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5.4 Lifting Balls In and Out of the Game
a)
The striker of a ball not in the game may have any ball
in the game lifted before the shot is played.
b) The striker of a ball in the game may have any ball not
in the game lifted before the shot is played.
c) Any ball lifted is replaced at the end of that shot. If the
marked space has become occupied by another ball(s),
the interfering ball(s) is lifted, the original lifted ball is
replaced and the ball(s) that had occupied the space
shall be placed on the ground up to nine inches in any
direction the striker chooses from the replaced ball,
but not in contact with any ball.
Exceptions:
1) If a roqueted ball occupies the marked space, the
original lifted ball is not replaced until after the
croquet shot.
2) If the striker ball occupies the marked space and the
striker has a continuation shot remaining, the lifted
ball is not replaced until after that shot.
d) Nothing in this rule should be interpreted as preventing
a “Cannon shot”.
5.5 Scoring Wicket and Hitting a Ball Not In the Game
A striker ball that scores a wicket and in the same shot hits
a ball that has not made the #1 wicket, is entitled to a
continuation shot, unless the turn ends because of a fault
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or any ball goes out of bounds. The other ball remains
where it lies, or may be lifted as in rule 5.4.
Part 6. Shots
6.1 Continuation Shots
a) The striker has a continuation shot when:
1) the striker ball scores a wicket point, or
2) after a croquet shot,
unless the turn ends because of a fault or any ball goes
out of bounds.
b) When a ball other than the striker ball is caused to
score a wicket point, no continuation shot is earned.
c) Continuation shots are not cumulative. If a striker ball:
1) scores a wicket and then hits another ball in the
same shot, the striker earns a continuation shot
for scoring the wicket and has not roqueted the
ball hit;
2) makes a roquet during a croquet shot, the striker ball
is ball in hand (rule 6.2) and takes croquet (rule
6.4);
3) scores a wicket during a croquet shot, the striker
ball earns a single continuation shot as a result of
scoring the wicket; or
4) scores two wickets in the same shot, the striker ball
earns a continuation shot for only the last wicket.
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6.2 Roquet Shots
a)
If a striker ball hits another ball on which it is alive, either
directly or after glancing off a wicket or stake, it has
roqueted that ball (exception: rule 6.3). The striker
becomes “ball in hand” at the conclusion of the shot
and shall take croquet (rule 6.4), except that the striker
shall not be entitled to take croquet if:
1) the striker commits a fault (rules 11.2-11.5),
2) the roqueted ball goes out of bounds or causes
another ball to go out of bounds, or
3) the striker ball and the roqueted ball have not yet
scored the #1 wicket.
b) The striker ball remains a ball in play until the conclusion
of a roquet shot, or until it goes out of bounds. After a
roquet occurs, the striker ball may cause any other ball
to move, either by a direct hit, with no penalty for hitting
a dead ball, or a cannon. The striker becomes responsible
for the other ball’s position. A ball that is hit or cannoned
by the striker ball after a roquet:
1) is not considered to have been roqueted,
2) retains its new position,
3) is placed in bounds, without penalty to the striker, if
it goes out of bounds or is within nine inches of the
boundary (see rule 8.3), and
4) is credited with any wicket or stake points that it
scored during the shot.
c) If the striker ball roquets two balls simultaneously,
the striker shall choose the ball that is deemed to
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have been roqueted. The other ball is deemed to have
been hit by the striker ball after the roquet.
d) After the striker ball makes a roquet, it cannot
subsequently in the same shot score for itself the stake
or a wicket, other than the #1 wicket.
e) If, at the beginning of a turn, the striker ball is in contact
with another ball, it is not ball in hand and may roquet
or shoot away from the other ball. If the striker ball is
alive on the other ball and chooses to shoot away, no
deadness is incurred, and any movement of the object
ball will be considered incidental. If the striker ball is
dead on the other ball, it must shoot away or rule 11.3
(hitting a dead ball) applies. There is an exception if
the striker is trying to score a wicket and the ball it is
dead on is lying beyond (not encroaching) the wicket
(rule 4.6). In this case the striker may shoot into the
dead ball without error if the wicket is made without
any other fault occurring.
f) If the striker roquets a ball out of bounds or the
roqueted ball causes another ball to go out of bounds,
the turn ends and the striker incurs no deadness, with
balls replaced in bounds as required by rule 8.3.
6.3 Wicket and Roquet
a) If a striker ball scores a wicket and in the same shot
hits any ball lying beyond the non-playing side of
the wicket (not intruding into the jaws), it is not a
roquet. The striker earns a continuation shot for
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scoring the wicket, unless the striker committed a fault
or any ball went out of bounds (rule 6.1a(1)).
b) If a striker ball attempts to score a wicket and fails, and
during the same shot hits a ball the striker ball is alive
on, the ball has been roqueted and the striker shall take
croquet from it.
6.4 Croquet Shots
a) To take croquet, the striker ball shall be placed on the
ground in contact at any point with the roqueted ball,
but not in contact with any other ball.
b) Before a croquet shot, the striker may touch or steady
the roqueted ball and may further apply such pressure
by hand or foot, but not by mallet, as is reasonably
necessary to make it hold its position.
c) Before a croquet shot the striker shall not move any
ball but his own intentionally, however if another ball
is moved unintentionally the striker shall replace the
ball without penalty.
d) In the croquet shot, the striker must shoot into the
croqueted ball. The croqueted ball must visibly move
or shake. Failure to move the croqueted ball is a fault,
the balls are replaced and it is end of turn (rule 12.2a).
e) If, during a croquet shot, the striker ball hits a ball it is
alive on, it is a roquet (rule 6.2) and the striker must
take croquet from the roqueted ball.
f) After the croquet shot, the striker is entitled to a
continuation shot unless:
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1) the striker’s turn ends because of a fault (rules 11.211.5), or
2) the striker has made a roquet in the croquet shot and
is required to take croquet from the roqueted ball.
g) The striker may not place a foot or hand on the striker
ball to play the croquet shot.
6.5 Ball in Hand
a) Any player may handle any ball that is replaceable
after contact, or may return any striker ball, which has
just made a roquet, to that striker without penalty
b) In doubles, a player may place a ball for a partner’s
croquet shot to save time.
Part 7. Dead Ball
7.1 Deadness
When the striker earns the croquet shot, the striker ball
becomes “dead” on the roqueted ball and may not roquet it
again until the striker ball scores its next wicket or is cleared
of deadness under rule 7.3 (1-back) or 9.2 (blocking).
7.2 Ball Cannoned
Any ball struck by a roqueted or croqueted ball or by a ball
hit by the striker ball after a roquet shall be given credit for
wicket or stake points it scores in the shot and no additional
deadness shall be incurred.
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7.3 Special Relief from Deadness
a) As each ball of both sides scores its 1-back wicket, the
opposing side has the option of clearing the deadness
from one of its balls. The side eligible for this relief, if
it chooses the option, shall declare to the opponent
which ball it is clearing before playing the first shot of
its next turn or no relief shall be given; however, the
declaration need not be made prior to that time.
Exception: If a striker has taken ball in hand (moved the
ball) after claiming a wire, the striker cannot then clear
the striker ball of deadness under the 1-back rule;
however, the partner ball may be cleared of deadness.
b) If a striker causes an opponent’s ball to score the 1back wicket, the striker shall have the option of clearing
either ball of the striker’s side after the shot ends. The
striker must exercise the option:
1) before the next shot of the turn, or
2) before the first shot of the sides next turn, if the shot
ends the turn with the 1 back wicket scored for the
opponent.
If the score occurs in the roquet shot, the striker ball
may be cleared; however, it shall be placed in contact
with the roqueted ball, the croquet shot shall be taken,
and the striker ball shall be considered dead on the
croqueted ball. If the score occurs in the croquet shot,
the striker ball may be cleared of all deadness and the
continuation shot taken as if the striker had just scored
a wicket.
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c)
When both balls of a side have deadness and the side
declares which ball is to be cleared of deadness after
an opponent scores the 1-back wicket, the first color
declared by the side shall be the one cleared and may
not subsequently be changed.
Part 8. Out of Bounds
8.1 Ball Out of Bounds
The turn ends at the conclusion
of a shot in which any ball goes
out of bounds, except for:
a) a striker ball that goes out of
bounds after a roquet, or
Figure 5: Ball In and
b) a ball that the striker ball hits
Out of Bounds
directly or cannons after
roqueting another ball (rule 6.2b).
8.2 Out of Bounds Defined
A ball is out of bounds (figure 5) when its vertical axis
crosses the boundary line (more than halfway over). It
shall be placed nine inches directly in from where it went
out of bounds, or, if in a corner, nine inches from both
boundaries. If placement of the ball is restricted by the
presence of another ball, refer to rule 8.3. Any ball moved
accidentally while placing a ball in bounds shall be replaced
without penalty.
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8.3 Ball Replacement
As shown in figure 6:
a) After each shot, any ball that:
1) goes out of bounds,
2) stops less than nine inches inside the boundary
line, or
3) is replaced less than nine inches inside the boundary
line after a fault,
shall be placed nine inches in from the boundary line.
Exceptions:
1) If the striker ball stops less than nine inches inside
the boundary line and has a continuation shot
remaining, the shot is played from that position.
2) After a roquet, if the striker ball goes out of bounds
or stops inside the nine inch line, the striker ball is
ball in hand. (rule 6.2a).
b) If, due to the presence of another ball, a ball cannot be
placed directly in from where it went out of bounds or
stopped, it shall be placed nine inches in from the line
and up to nine inches in either direction the striker
chooses from the other ball, but not in contact with
any ball.
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The striker, Yellow, has ended the turn and is responsible
for the positions of Red, Black, and Blue.
Yellow has chosen to place Blue in bounds first, Black
next, Red next, and then Yellow. Blue, Black, and Red
own their new position. Due to the presence of Black,
Yellow cannot be placed directly in from the boundary
line and therefore may be placed up to nine inches from
Black, as indicated by the several Y positions, but not in
contact with any ball. Yellow may not be placed on the
other side of Blue because it would be more than nine
inches from Black.
Figure 6: Balls Out of Bounds and
Position Ownership – An Example
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c)
If two or more balls are sent out of bounds, or come to
rest less than nine inches from the boundary, the striker
shall have the option to place any ball in bounds first,
with the other ball(s) measured in bounds afterwards.
d) A ball that occupies a boundary position and is not
moved by another ball (except a ball in hand) retains
that position. Any ball that comes to rest nine inches
or more from the boundary shall retain that position. If
another ball cannot be measured in because of the ball,
it shall be measured in as provided in rule 8.3b.
8.4 Opponent Replacing Ball
An opponent may place the striker ball or any other ball
required to be placed in bounds only if the opponent has
the consent of the striker.
Part 9. Blocking and Wiring
9.1 Responsible for Position
A side becomes responsible for the position of any ball that
the side plays, passes (waives), or causes to move or shake,
either directly or indirectly, as a result of playing a ball,
including balls replaced after a fault.
Exceptions: A side is not responsible for the position of a
ball that is replaced after accidental movement (such as
being hit with the foot or mallet after the striking period) or
invalid play (rules 11.1, 11.6, 11.7), unless the side
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was responsible for the position of that ball before the
accidental movement or the invalid play.
9.2 Blocking Wicket
As illustrated by figure 7:
a) A striker is blocked
(stymied) from
scoring a wicket if:
The striker, Yellow, is dead on all
1) at the beginning
other balls, but is not blocked by
any other ball.
of the striker’s
turn, any part
of one or more
balls on which
The striker, Yellow, is dead on all
the striker is
other balls and is blocked by each of
the other balls.
dead intrudes
in the direct
Figure 7: Blocking Ball Examples
path the striker
ball would take
in attempting a possible shot to score the wicket, or
would hamper the striker’s normal backswing in an
attempt to make a possible shot to score the wicket
(“Possible shot” means a shot that is not a jump
shot and that the referee believes would have any
chance of scoring the wicket if the intruding balls
that the striker is dead on, and the intruding balls
that the striker is wired from and is not responsible
for, were removed.);
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and
2) the opponent created the block by:
i) becoming responsible for the striker ball’s
position, and thereafter the striker’s side did not
become responsible for any blocking ball, or
ii) becoming responsible for all blocking balls,
and thereafter the striker’s side did not become
responsible for the striker ball’s position.
b) A side may block with any ball. All blocks must be
called before the first stroke of the turn. If a block
occurs on two consecutive turns of the same ball, the
striker may clean the blocked ball of deadness on all
blocking balls.
9.3 Wired Ball
A ball is wired from another ball if (figure 8):
a) a wicket, the stake, or another ball on which the
striker is dead blocks the clear path required for either
side of the striker ball to hit any part of another ball
upon which it is alive;
b) a wicket, the stake, or another ball, on which the
striker is dead, hampers the striker’s normal
backswing of the mallet prior to impact with the
striker ball
(The swing is hampered if striker cannot strike the
ball freely toward any part of a live ball when
striking the center of the ball with any part of the
face of the mallet. The mere interference of a
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c)
wicket, stake, or another ball, with the stance of the
striker is not wiring.);
or
any part of the striker ball lies within a wicket.
Ball A is not wired from Black; it can hit the rightmost point of Black
with its left side.
Ball B is not wired from Black. A test ball, T, has been placed to
assist in making the call.
Ball C is not wired from Black. A second test ball, t, has been placed
to assist in making the call.
Ball D is wired from Black; it cannot hit the rightmost point of Black
with its left side.
Test balls may be used to confirm a wire by sighting along the sides
of the striker ball and the test balls toward the target ball.
STAKE*: This principle also applies to a wicket and to a ball the
striker is dead on.
Figure 8: Wired Ball – Examples
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9.4 Wiring Lift
a) If, at the beginning of a turn, the striker ball is wired
from all balls it is alive on and the opponent is
responsible for the striker’s position (rule 9.1), the striker
may lift the striker ball, place it in contact with any ball
on which it is alive, and take croquet. A striker who is
dead on all balls may not take a lift.
b) In a time limit game (rule 13.7), the striker shall have 45
seconds to play the croquet shot after lifting the striker ball.
Part 10. Rover and Finishing the Game
10.1 Rover
A ball that scores the rover wicket has scored its 12 wicket
points and becomes a rover ball.
10.2 Stake Out
a) To stake out a rover ball, the striker ball must be a rover
ball.
1) A striker ball stakes out when the ball hits the stake,
except after a roquet when it is ball in hand on the
roqueted ball.
2) A striker may stake out another rover ball with a
roquet, croquet, or cannon shot, except, a striker
ball cannot become a rover and stake out another
rover ball on the same shot.
b) A rover ball that has staked out or been staked out of
the game shall be removed from the game, provided
no fault occurred. The staked out ball is removed
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from the court immediately and no longer has a turn.
Play continues in order without the staked out ball.
c) Any ball except the striker ball, hit by the rover ball
after the rover ball hit the stake shall be replaced.
d) A striker ball that scores the rover wicket and hits the
stake on the same shot has staked out of the game.
e) If a striker’s rover ball roquets another rover ball into
the stake, the roqueted ball is considered to have been
staked out and is removed from play. The striker
becomes dead on the roqueted ball, and then receives
two shots; the first shot (replacing the croquet shot)
is taken from a position nine inches in any direction
from the stake.
10.3 Rover Deadness
a) A rover may roquet each ball, on which it is alive, only
once per turn.
b) A rover ball that is dead on at least two (2) balls clears
itself or is cleared of its deadness by:
1) shooting through any wicket in either direction
(earning a continuation shot), or
2) being roqueted, croqueted, or cannoned through
any wicket in either direction.
If a rover ball does not complete running the wicket, it
can, on a subsequent shot, continue through in the
same direction to clear its deadness.
c) A rover remains temporarily dead (last dead) on the
last ball roqueted prior to clearing deadness. When
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the rover ball roquets another ball, on which it is alive,
the last deadness is removed.
d) A rover ball that passes through a wicket to clear
deadness and in the same shot hits the ball on which it
is last dead, incurs no penalty and, unless any ball is
driven out of bounds, both balls remain where they lie
with the rover ball entitled to a continuation shot.
e) When an opponent scores the 1-back wicket, a rover
ball may be cleared of its deadness but is not cleared of
last deadness. When an opponent scores 1-back, a
rover ball may be cleared of deadness on 1, 2 or 3 balls,
but may not be cleared of last deadness (i.e., if a rover
ball is dead on only one ball, it may be cleared of deadness,
but shall remain temporarily dead on it as if “last dead”).
f) A striker’s rover ball that passes through a wicket to
clear deadness and hits the stake on the same shot,
has staked out of the game.
10.4 Winning
A game is won by the side that scores the 24 wicket points
and stakes out both balls, thereby scoring a total of 26
points before the opponent, or in a time limit game, scores
the most points.
Part 11. Errors in Play
11.1 Out of Turn Play
a) A player has played out of turn if:
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1) in singles, a player plays the partner ball to start a
turn (e.g., a striker plays blue when it is black to
play),
2) in doubles, a player plays when it is the partner’s or the
opponent’s turn (e.g., the player of blue plays blue
when it is black to play), or
3) in singles or doubles, a player plays any ball during the
partner’s or opponent’s turn (e.g., the player of blue
plays black while red is in it’s turn).
b) If either side plays out of turn, play is stopped as soon as
the error is discovered by any player or official, and all
balls affected shall be replaced to where they were at the
beginning of the out-of-turn play. No penalty is assessed,
no deadness is incurred, no points are scored, and the
correct ball resumes play.
c) Subject to rule 11.1d, if both sides play out of turn
consecutively. Play is stopped as soon as the error is
discovered by any player or official, and all balls affected
shall be replaced to where they were when the first side
played out of turn. No penalty is assessed, no deadness
is incurred, no points are scored, and the correct ball
resumes play.
d) If it is discovered by any player or official that three (3) or
more out-of-turn plays have occurred consecutively, play
is stopped at the time of discovery. All balls affected by
the last out-of-turn play shall be replaced to where they
were at the beginning of the turn in which the error was
discovered. No penalty is assessed, no deadness is
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incurred, no points are scored, and the correct ball resumes
play; however, any points scored, deadness, or faults
incurred before the turn in which the error was discovered
shall be valid.
Examples:
a) It is red’s turn, but yellow plays, then black plays. At this
time the error is discovered. All balls are replaced; there is
no penalty, no deadness incurred, and no points scored.
The CORRECT ball (red) plays. Rule 11.1c applies, as
there were two consecutive out-of-turn plays by yellow
and black.
b) It is red’s turn, but yellow plays, black plays, red plays,
and blue plays. At this time the error is discovered. All
balls affected by blue’s play are returned to their positions
at the beginning of blue’s out-of-turn play, and the
CORRECT ball (black) plays. Rule 11.1d applies, as there
were three or more consecutive out-of-turn plays; all play
before blue is deemed valid.
c) It is red’s turn, but yellow plays, blue plays, and red plays.
At this time, yellow’s out-of-turn play is discovered. In
this case, no balls are replaced, and red continues its turn.
Rule 12.1 (Limit of Claims) applies; although Yellow played
out of turn, the error was condoned because it was not
called before the first shot of the opponent’s next turn.
Red is now the CORRECT ball in sequence.
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11.2 Wrong Ball Faults
a) The striker has committed a wrong ball fault if:
1) in singles, the striker plays an opponent ball to start
a turn,
2) in doubles, the striker plays a partner ball or an
opponent ball to start a turn, or
3) in singles or doubles, the striker plays an opponent
or partner ball during a turn.
b) If a wrong ball fault occurs, the turn ends and all balls
are replaced to where they were when the shot began
(rule 12.2a).
c) A player can commit a wrong ball fault only when it is
that player’s turn. Striking any ball when it is another
player’s turn to play is an out-of-turn error (rule 11.1a(3)).
11.3 Dead Ball Faults
a) The striker has committed a dead ball fault if the striker
ball hits a ball it is dead on, except that:
1) after a roquet, the striker ball may hit any ball without
penalty,
2) during a croquet shot, the striker ball may hit the
croqueted ball more than once, and
3) while scoring its wicket, the striker ball may hit a
dead ball lying beyond the wicket (but it is a fault
if the wicket is not scored).
b) The striker has committed a dead ball fault if a rover
ball hits any ball more than once during the rover
ball’s turn, unless the second hit occurs because the
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c)
rover ball runs a wicket to clear deadness and in the
same shot hits a ball lying beyond the wicket.
If a dead ball fault occurs, the turn ends and all balls
are replaced to where they were when the shot began
(rule 12.2a), except that if a dead ball fault occurs in a
croquet shot, only the striker ball and any stationary
ball hit by the striker ball are replaced, while any other
balls, including any moving dead ball hit by the striker
ball, remain where they came to rest and receive credit
for any points scored (rule 12.2c).
11.4 Interference with a Ball
a)
If the striker interferes with a ball in any way during a
shot, the striker has committed an interference fault.
The turn ends and all balls affected by the shot are
replaced (rule 12.2a).
b) If the opponent or an outside agency interferes with a
ball during a shot, the ball shall be replaced in its
probable finishing position. If the final position cannot
be reasonably determined, the shot shall be replayed.
In the event there is a dispute over the placement of a
ball after interference or whether a shot should be
replayed, a referee shall decide.
(An outside agency is anything not connected with
the court. Examples include the players or
equipment from another game, spectators, court
accessories when not properly placed, balls not in
play, animals, or other stray objects, but do not
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include any loose impediments on the court surface
or the weather.)
11.5 Mallet Faults
a)
It is a fault if during the striking period the striker:
1) hits a hampered shot with the beveled edge or corner
of the mallet striking face (The shot is hampered if
the striker’s swing is interfered with by a wicket,
stake, or other ball which inhibits a normal
backswing or the striker ball is close enough to a
wicket, stake, or other ball to be a possible “Crush”,
“Double Tap” or “Push”.);
2) touches the head of the mallet with a hand;
3) touches another ball with a foot or the mallet;
4) rests the shaft of the mallet, a hand, or an arm on the
ground;
5) rests the shaft of the mallet, a hand, or an arm against
any part of the legs or feet or against a wicket or stake;
6) “pushes” the striker ball by maintaining contact
between the mallet and the ball for an appreciable
period of time, or causes the mallet to accelerate
while still in contact with the ball;
7) “double taps” the striker ball by hitting the ball
twice in the same shot or maintaining contact
between the mallet and the ball after the ball has
hit another ball, except that no fault can be
committed under this rule if the cause of the
second hit is the result of a roquet, hitting
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another ball lying beyond the wicket in a wicket
shot, or a stake out;
8) strikes the ball so as to cause it to touch an upright
or, unless the striker ball stakes out in the shot,
the stake while still in contact with the mallet (a
“Crush” shot);
9) fails to strike the ball in a direction away from an
upright or, unless the striker ball stakes out in the
shot, stake when the ball is lying in contact with
the upright or stake (a “Crush” shot) (A “Crush”
shot cannot be transferred to the striker ball from
a second ball lying against an upright or the stake.);
10) causes, or attempts to cause, the mallet to strike
the ball by kicking or hitting the mallet with a foot,
hand, or another mallet;
11) causes a wicket or stake to move a ball at rest by
hitting the wicket or stake with the mallet;
12) places a foot or hand on the striker ball during a
croquet shot to hold it in place;
13) fails to cause the croqueted ball to move or shake
on the croquet stroke;
14) fails to shoot into the croqueted ball on the croquet
shot; or
15) fails to have the striker ball in contact with the
croqueted ball at the beginning of a croquet shot.
b) When a fault is committed during the striking period
the turn ends and all balls are replaced (rule 12.2a).
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11.6 Misplaced Balls
a) If a player or official observes that a shot is to be played
with any relevant ball misplaced, play shall be stopped
and the misplaced ball(s) corrected.
b) If a player or official discovers (within the applicable limit
of claims) that a shot has occurred with any ball relevant
to the shot misplaced, play shall be stopped, all balls,
clips, and deadness shall be corrected to the point
immediately prior to the shot, and the player resumes play
without penalty.
c) Misplacement of the striker ball includes:
1) failing to take croquet when entitled to,
2) taking croquet when not entitled to,
3) taking croquet from a wrong ball,
4) lifting to an incorrect position, or
5) lifting a wrong ball after a roquet.
d) Misplacement of a ball does not include:
1) taking or preparing to take croquet with the striker
ball placed next to, but not in contact with, the
roqueted ball (rule 11.5a(15)),
2) moving the roqueted ball after placing the striker ball
for the croquet shot, or
3) continued play after a fault not called by a player or by
a referee.
e) If a striker plays a shot:
1) when the striker ball is misplaced, it must be called
before the first shot of the opponent’s next
turn, otherwise, the shot is condoned; or
2) when another ball relevant to the shot is
misplaced, it must be called before the next shot
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f)
of the striker’s turn, otherwise, the shot is
condoned.
If any ball relevant to a shot is misplaced and the striker
commits a fault (rules 11.2-11.5), the shot is retaken
without penalty.
11.7 Incorrect Information
If a striker plays any shot or shots as the result of any
incorrect information concerning the state of the game
supplied by the opponent or an official, the striker shall
have the right to replay. If the right to replay any shot or
shots is not claimed before the first shot of the
opponent’s turn, the right to replay the shot or shots
shall be forfeited. This shall apply to the deadness board
and the placement of clips, provided the opponent or an
official had confirmed the incorrect information verbally
to the striker beforehand.
Part 12. Claims and Penalties
12.1 Limit of Claims
A fault or misplay shall be called by a striker or an opponent
as soon as it is discovered. If a fault is not called before the
first shot of the opponent’s next turn, the fault shall be
condoned.
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12.2 Penalties
The following penalties shall apply as noted in the
preceding rules:
a) All balls are replaced to where they were when the
shot began, and the turn ends.
b) All balls remain where they stopped at the end of the
shot, and the turn ends. Balls shall then be placed in
bounds if required under rule 8.3.
c) The striker ball and any stationary dead ball hit by the
striker ball are replaced, while any other balls, including
any moving dead ball hit by the striker ball, remain
where they came to rest and receive credit for any points
scored. Balls shall then be placed in bounds if required
under rule 8.3.
Part 13. Tournament Play and Timed Games
13.1 Tournament Director
Each tournament shall have a tournament director who shall:
a) administer, interpret, and enforce the rules of the game,
b) appoint a committee to assist and provide referees and
other officials as may be required,
c) arrange the draw,
d) assign handicaps to players who do not have official
USCA handicaps,
e) choose the method of allocating bisques,
f) schedule matches and assign courts,
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g) direct all aspects of the competition, including the
disposition of any appeal not resolved by a referee,
and
h) deal with any infringement of the rules for which no
penalty is prescribed or any situation that does not
appear to be covered by these rules in a manner which
the director feels meets the justice of the case.
13.2 Referee’s Role
a) The role of the referee is to:
1) resolve disputes between players by interpreting
the rules in the rulebook and by making rulings on
matters of fact (If a situation does not appear to be
covered in the rules, the dispute shall be decided
in the best judgment of the referee.), and
2) observe and judge any questionable shot, when
called upon by the striker or opponent.
b) If a player feels an opponent has committed mallet
faults such as pushing, double tapping, or not
moving the croqueted ball on the croquet shot, the
player may summon the referee to observe
subsequent shots.
c) A player may appeal a referee’s interpretation of the
rules but may not appeal a referee’s ruling on a matter
of fact (rule 13.6c).
d) A referee may appoint individuals to serve as umpires.
An umpire’s powers are confined to deciding:
1) whether a ball hits another ball,
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2) whether a ball is moved or shaken on the croquet
shot, and
3) whether a rover ball hits the stake.
13.3 Intervention
a) It is the responsibility of the players to monitor the
progress of a game, and the referee shall not intervene
unless asked by the players, except that the referee
should, when it is observed:
1) correct improper clip placement,
2) correct the misplacement of balls,
3) make time announcements,
4) forestall an unearned continuation shot after a striker
runs a wrong wicket,
5) correct the deadness board,
6) forestall any out of turn play, and
7) forestall a striker mistakenly striking a ball in the
other game (rule 14.2a).
b) If an official does not forestall an unearned continuation
shot following the running of a wrong wicket, play shall
be stopped as soon as the error is discovered and affected
balls shall be replaced to where they were when the
unearned continuation shot was taken. No out of turn
error is called, no credit for wicket points is given, all
deadness the striker had prior to the unearned continuation
shot remains, and the next ball in sequence then plays.
The tournament director, however, has discretionary
power to let the game proceed with no corrections
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c)
other than placing the incorrect clip back on the
skipped wicket.
The tournament director may appoint officials,
including boardkeepers and timekeepers, to intervene
in all the same instances in which referees may intervene
(rule 13.3a). These officials are not required to be
certified USCA referees but should possess the
confidence to carry out these duties.
13.4 Resetting Equipment
a) Any player may request that improperly set equipment
used for their game be reset. If all the players on the
court are in agreement they may reset the equipment
themselves. In the event that there is not agreement
among the players, any player may ask an official to
make the changes. If the official believes resetting is
unwarranted, the request may be denied. A denial may
be appealed to the tournament director. The tournament
director has final say as to whether the equipment is
reset.
b) In the event that the striker ball has stuck in the wicket,
the striker shall be allowed to retake the shot after the
wicket has been reset. Either player may straighten the
boundary line string when needed except during the
course of a shot. No equipment may be reset during a
game while a question of a wire exists in any game
being played on the court and resetting the equipment
might affect the possible wire.
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13.5 Referee Not Available
a) In the absence of an appointed referee, players shall
act as their own joint referees, but there is an obligation
on the opponent to monitor the game, and if the
opponent fails to do so, the striker is, during such
period, the sole referee.
b) If a player fails to request that a striker call a referee
to observe a questionable shot before it is taken,
the player may appeal only for a dispute over rules
interpretation but not the facts of the shot (rule 13.6).
c) If a player does have a referee observe a questionable
shot before it is taken, but does not agree with the
ruling of the referee, the player may appeal to the
tournament director only for a dispute over rules
interpretation and not the facts of the shot (rule 13.6).
d) In doubles, all players share the rights and duties of a
referee, with the striker being the final arbiter.
13.6 Appeals
a) If a player fails to request that a striker call a referee to
observe a questionable shot before it is taken, and a
fault does occur, the player shall call the fault as required
in rule 12.1 but may not appeal to the tournament
director any ruling by the striker (who is the referee) on
that shot.
b) If a player does have a referee observe a
questionable shot before it is taken, but does not
agree with the ruling of the referee, the player may
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appeal to the tournament director only as provided in
rule 13.6d.
c) If, during the course of a tournament, there is a dispute
over a matter of fact related to the striking of a ball or
the movement of a ball on the court, the referee’s
decision is final and may not be appealed to the
tournament director.
d) If the dispute is over an interpretation of the rules, a
player may appeal to the tournament director, who shall
make the final decision. When a dispute over a rules
interpretation is appealed to the tournament director
and the tournament director was a witness and knows
the solution, the players shall be informed that the
matter will be resolved on that basis. If the disputed
event was not observed, the decision may be based on
the players’ arguments and, at the referee’s or
tournament director’s discretion, accounts by others.
If doubt persists, a compromise decision may involve
adjusting clips, directing where balls shall be placed,
requiring players to replay the disputed play, or by
starting the game over.
13.7 Time Limits
Game and shot time limits may be set by a tournament
committee before the start of the first tournament game.
These time limits may be increased or decreased by the
committee at the conclusion of each full round (e.g., first,
quarter, or semifinal rounds) as overall time and weather
conditions dictate.
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13.8 Shot and Game Clocks
a) In a time limit game the striker shall have a maximum of
45 seconds to strike the striker ball following the
completion of the previous shot. A shot ends when all
balls set in motion by the striker have stopped rolling
or have crossed a boundary (rule 3.2b). If the striker
does not strike the ball before 45 seconds is called, the
striker is considered to have played the turn. The
timekeeper shall audibly announce when 15 seconds
remain on the shot clock and shall call ‘time’ if 15
seconds elapses following such an announcement and
the striker has not struck the striker ball.
b) The game clock continues when a shot ends. The
game clock shall be stopped only during official (referee)
time-outs, player time-outs, for delays caused by double
banked games (as stated in a tournament’s guidelines),
and as stated in rule 13.8c.
c) Until the last fifteen minutes of a game, the timekeeper
shall not start the 45-second shot clock for the next shot
until all balls out of bounds are brought in bounds.
During the last fifteen minutes, when a shot ends with
ball(s) out of bounds, the timekeeper shall start the shot
clock for the next shot immediately, however the striker
may request that both the game clock and the shot clock
be stopped until all balls are brought in bounds.
d) When a tournament official stops play at any time during
a game to delay or postpone completion of a game
due to inclement weather, court conditions, or
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darkness, the game clock shall be stopped until play
resumes. If necessary, at the discretion of the official,
time that elapsed before the game clock was stopped
may be added to the game clock.
13.9 Time-Outs
a) Each side is allotted three one-minute player time-outs
which may be used at any time during the game.
b) A side may call for a player time-out only during that
side’s turn, but a time-out may not be called during a
shot. In the case of a roquet, a time-out may not be
called as long as the roqueted ball or any other ball,
including the striker ball, is in motion on the court.
c) The game and shot clocks are stopped during player
time-outs. A side’s time-out is over, and the game and
shot clocks are resumed:
1) when one minute has expired,
2) the side calls “time in”, or
3) when the striker makes an intentional shot.
d) The timekeeper shall announce when 15 seconds
remain in the time-out and call “time in” when the timeout is over.
13.10 Match Time
a) The timekeeper should announce when fifteen minutes
remain in the game, and again when one minute
remains, and declare “match time” when that minute
has elapsed.
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b) Players may, at any time, ask the timekeeper how much
time is remaining in the game.
13.11 Last Turn
a) When match time is called each remaining ball shall have
one “last turn” in rotation. If the tournament’s guidelines
so provide, when the side playing the final ball in the
rotation of last turn is ahead during that ball’s turn, play
shall stop and the match shall be declared over. For the
sole purpose of determining whether a ball is the first ball
in last turn, it shall be ruled as follows.
1) If the striker has struck the ball when match time
expires, the striker is not the first ball in last turn
unless there are shots remaining in the turn.
2) If the striker has not struck the ball or passed the
turn before match time expires, the striker is the
first ball in last turn.
b) After match time has been called and all balls in the game
have played their last turn, the side scoring the most wicket
and stake points is declared the winner. If the score is tied
after all balls have played their last turn, play shall continue
in full rounds, starting with the ball that started last turn,
until the tie is broken or both balls of one side stake out.
13.12 Missing Player
a) In doubles tournaments, where one player is absent at
the beginning of play, that player’s partner must place
the absent player’s ball in the starting area and
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may then, and on any subsequent turn, either pass the
turn or wait for the shot time limit to expire.
b) In singles tournaments, when one player is absent at
the beginning of play, the referee shall place the absent
player’s balls in the starting area and allow the shot
time to expire then, and on any subsequent turn.
Part 14. Double Banking
Rules in this part are intended to apply to the special
circumstances of playing two games simultaneously on one
court.
14.1 Marking Balls
a) All players shall carry ball markers to be used when
marking the position of any ball that needs to be lifted,
as in rule 14.1b. In doubles play the striker’s partner
should be prepared at any time to mark balls in either
game.
b) A ball may be marked and lifted, with the consent of
the players of that ball’s game, when it is felt to be
interfering with the other game on court.
c) A lifted ball shall be replaced as soon as it no longer
interferes with the play for which it was lifted.
d) A ball in a critical position (i.e., in or near a wicket,
wired positions, and some positions on or near the
nine inch line) shall not be lifted, but shall be allowed
to play while the other game takes a double banking
time-out (as allowed for in the tournament’s
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guidelines), provided the delay will not be
excessive.
14.2 Interference Between Games
a)
b)
c)
The referee shall forestall a striker mistakenly striking
a ball in the other game. If a striker does mistakenly
strike, roquet, or take croquet from a ball in the other
game, the balls shall be replaced and the striker shall
replay.
If a ball in motion collides with a player in another
game, or a ball at rest in another game, the ball in the
other game shall be replaced and the ball that was in
motion shall be placed in its probable finishing
position. If the finishing position cannot be
reasonably determined, the shot shall be replayed.
In the event there is a dispute over the placement of
a ball after interference or whether a shot should be
replayed, a referee shall decide.
If a ball in motion from one game collides with a ball
in motion from another, the balls shall be replaced in
their probable finishing positions. If the final
position of one or both cannot be reasonably
determined, the shot or shots shall be replayed. In
the event there is a dispute over the placement of a
ball after interference or whether a shot should be
replayed, a referee shall decide.
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14.3 Court Etiquette
a) Only the striker shall be on the court; all other players
shall remain outside the boundaries, except in doubles
when a partner may come on the court momentarily to
indicate a spot or help place a ball for a croquet shot;
however, the partner must leave the court immediately
after the task is finished.
b) When two players are making a play for the same
wicket, the first player to the wicket has right-of-way.
A player should yield to another who is playing a break.
14.4 Interference Time-Outs
a)
Only players may call time-out for interference (as
allowed for in a tournament’s guidelines). Either the
players or the timekeeper shall call “time in” as soon as
the interference is over.
b) Improper use of interference time-outs shall be brought
to the attention of the tournament director.
c) All announcements shall clearly designate a reference
to the proper game (e.g., solids, stripes, or second colors)
and court number (e.g., court 1, 2, etc.), but shall not
include any reference to which side’s turn it is, or the
name of the player.
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Part 15. Handicap Play
15.1 Bisques
a) Bisques are extra shots given to players. A bisque may be
used in either of two ways:
1) A “replay bisque” is a replayed shot. The striker must
announce the intention to use a replay bisque before
picking up the ball and must be able to accurately
restore the state of the game before taking the
replayed shot. When using a replay bisque, the
striker does not have to attempt the same shot.
2) A “continuation bisque” is an additional shot played
from where the striker ball stopped after a shot. If a
continuation bisque is to be used, the striker must
announce the intention before beginning the extra
turn.
b) Bisques may be taken at any time, and may be used
consecutively except that:
1) a replay bisque may be taken only for the preceding
shot, and
2) a continuation bisque may not be taken if, in the
preceding shot, a fault occurred or a ball was sent
out of bounds resulting in end of turn.
c) When a replay bisque is taken, all deadness is first restored
to what existed at the beginning of the shot that is to be
replayed. Then, as the new shot is played, and in all other
bisque play, deadness develops in the standard way.
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d) If the striker replays a shot or plays an unearned
continuation shot without indicating the intention to
take a bisque, the striker has played out of turn (rule
11.1), all balls affected are replaced, and the next turn
begins.
e) When the striker indicates the intention to take a
bisque, a new shot clock shall begin.
15.2 Half Bisques
A “half bisque” is a replay bisque or a continuation bisque
after which no wicket or stake point can be earned during
that turn. A striker must announce the intention to take a
half bisque before picking up or striking the ball, and may
use one half bisque per game. A full bisque cannot be
divided into two half bisques. (See rules 15.3 and 15.4.)
15.3 Doubles
a) In doubles matches, a team handicap is determined
by averaging the partners’ handicaps. For example, a
2 and a 4 have a team handicap of 3; a 5 and a 7 have
a team handicap of 6. The side with the higher team
handicap receives the number of bisques equivalent
to the difference in team handicaps. In the example
above, the difference would be 3 bisques (6 minus 3).
If the difference between the average handicaps
results in a ¼ bisque, this is rounded up to the next ½
or whole number (for example, 2¼ bisques become
2½ bisques and 2¾ bisques becomes 3 bisques).
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b) Unless the tournament regulations provide otherwise,
only the higher handicap player in the team receiving
bisques may use them.
c) If both players on the bisque-receiving side have the
same handicap, or if the tournament notification and
entry form so provide, rule 15.3b does not apply and
either player of a side may use the side’s bisques. For
example, a side made up of two players with handicap
5 receiving three bisques may opt to have one player
use all three bisques, or to have one player use two
bisques and the other player one bisque, at their
discretion during the game. A side need not declare in
advance how it chooses to allocate its bisques.
15.4 Singles
a) The two opponents will play to the net difference in
handicaps and where the handicaps are the same no
bisques will be given. Where the handicaps differ, the
lower handicap plays at zero and the higher handicap
player receives the difference between the handicaps.
For example, player A has a handicap of 2, player B has
a handicap of 4; therefore, player A plays at zero and
player B plays at 2.
b) In singles matches, a player may use the bisque quota
between both balls.
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15.5 Base Method Handicap Play
a) If the tournament notification and entry form so provide,
a base method for allocating bisques may be used as
an alternative for the difference method described in
rules 15.3a and 15.4a. A base number is subtracted
from each side’s handicap (or in doubles, the team
handicap (rule 15.3a)) and each side receives the
resulting number of bisques. For example, if the team
or player handicaps are 8 and 11, a base of 3 would
give the first team 5 bisques and the second team 8
bisques.
b) Only one method, base or difference, may be used for
all handicap play in a tournament flight. If the base
method is chosen, the same base must be used for all
matches within a flight, and the base must not exceed
the lowest player handicap (singles) or team handicap
(doubles) in that flight.
Part 16. Shortened Games
16.1 Fourteen Point Game
The standard game of 26 points may be modified to a 14
point game. The game is played by the same rules as a 26
point game with the following exceptions:
a) Each ball scores only 6 wicket points and the stake
point.
b) The sixth wicket is run in its normal direction, away
from the stake.
-69-
c)
A ball that has scored the sixth wicket becomes a
rover ball.
d) A side becomes eligible for the special relief from
deadness set forth in rule 7.3 when each ball of the
opposing side scores the fourth wicket.
e) In handicap games played in a tournament, the
tournament director may, at the beginning of the
tournament, halve the number of each player’s bisques
(rounding up to the nearest half or whole bisque if
necessary).
Part 17. Experimental Rules
The following rules are experimental and are set forth here
to permit testing by USCA players. Subsequent to a 12
month trial period, one or more of these rules (or some
modification of them based on player input) may be
considered for adoption as official rules of the USCA at
such time as the USCA Rules Committee and the USCA
Management Committee have sufficient data on their
impact on the game to make a decision as to their
appropriateness.
Until such rules are officially adopted and published as
official rules in a supplement or future edition of the USCA
Rulebook, they may be used in USCA sanctioned events
if written notice of the intention to use one or more of
these rules is given on all player notification and entry
forms prior to a tournament.
-70-
Players are actively encouraged to experiment with these
rules in non-tournament play and provide the USCA Rules
Committee with their comments and experiences.
17.1 Immediately in the Game
The game begins by each ball, in turn, beginning with
blue, being placed within the starting area. As soon as a
ball is placed within the starting area, it is in the game and
live on all other balls which have already been placed in
the starting area. In using this Experimental Rule, players
should assume that all other references in the rulebook to
balls “in the game” or balls “not in the game” be considered
deleted.
-71-
HANDICAP POINT SYSTEM
Handicaps are based on a point system. Players competing
in sanctioned singles events will score points (plus or minus)
based upon the results of each individual match. When a
player accumulates a plus or minus of 28 points total, a
handicap change should occur. Plus points indicate a
lowering of handicap; minus points indicate an increase in
handicap. To be eligible for a handicap change, players
must play in at least one USCA sanctioned singles event
per year. If they do not, their handicap will be listed as
inactive. If inactivity continues for another year, they will
be raised one handicap level. For a handicap to be lowered
a player must defeat a player of lower handicap at least
once during the tracking period. The tracking period is the
period from 0-28 points.
The following information also apply:
a) Handicaps from 20 to 5 change by whole numbers; below
5 handicaps change by half numbers. Each number or
half-number change requires 28 tracking points.
b) Handicaps may never be changed during a
tournament, only at the conclusion of a tournament.
If at the end of a tournament a player has more than
28 points, his or her handicap will be lowered and the
additional tracking points will be divided in half and
awarded to the player.
-72-
c)
If a person wins a flight, his or her final tracking points
for that tournament cannot be minus. A zero will be
entered.
Level Play-Plus Points (handicap lowered)
A. Higher handicap player defeats lower handicap player:
1) 2 or more handicaps lower (6 defeats 4)
+8
2) 1 ½ handicaps lower (5 defeats 3½)
+7
3) 1 handicap lower (6 defeats 5)
+6
4) ½ handicap lower (½ defeats 0)
+5
B. Defeat player of equal handicap (6 defeats 6)
+4
C. Defeat player of higher handicap:
1) ½ handicap higher (0 defeats ½)
+3
2) 1 handicap higher (5 defeats 6)
+2
3) 1½ or more handicaps higher (0 defeats 1½)
+1
Level Play-Minus Points (handicap increase)
D. Lose to player of lower handicap (6 loses to 5)
E. Lose to player of equal handicap (6 loses to 6)
F. Lose to player of higher handicap (6 loses to
-1
-4
-4
Handicap (Bisque) Play-Plus Points
G. Handicap difference is less than 5 (4 defeats 0
H. Handicap difference is 5 or more (6 defeats 0)
+2
+1
Handicap (Bisque) Play-Minus Points
I. Handicap difference is less than 5 (4 loses to 0)
J. Handicap difference is 5 or more (6 loses 0)
-73-
-2
-1
GLOSSARY
ALIVE - able to roquet one or more balls. A ball becomes
alive on all balls when it scores a wicket and may roquet and
take croquet from each ball one time between each wicket
point.
ALL-AROUND BREAK - a player scores all the wickets in a
single turn.
ALTERNATING DOUBLES - see WATERFORD DOUBLES.
APPROACH SHOT (also POSITION SHOT) - a shot intended
to place the ball in position to score a wicket.
BALL-IN-HAND - any ball that has to be moved, and is
therefore lifted and replaced or given a fresh position on the
court in accordance with the rules, e.g.:
a) a ball that has made a roquet,
b) a ball off the court or less than 9 inches from the
boundary,
c) a wired ball that has been lifted,
d) a ball that has to be re-positioned after a fault or
irregularity,
e) a ball that is wired and has claimed the right to be lifted.
BISQUE - a replayed shot or an additional shot given to a
player. Bisques are determined by a player’s handicap
and serve the purpose of equalizing a game between
-74-
players of different levels of ability. See Continuation Bisque
and Replay Bisque.
BISQUE PLAY - see HANDICAP PLAY.
BLOCK (also STYMIE) - when a ball, on which the striker is
dead, intrudes in the direct path the striker ball would take to
score its wicket.
BLOCK PLAY (also ROUND ROBIN) - a tournament format
in which players are assigned to blocks and play one game
against each, or most, of the other players in their block.
Some form of playoffs to determine the top finishing positions
usually follows a round robin.
BREAK - a series of wickets scored by a player in one turn
using one other ball (two-ball break), two other balls (threeball break) or with all balls in play (four-ball break).
BREAK DOWN - when a break or turn ends because no
continuation or croquet shot is earned or a fault occurs.
BYE - a position on a tournament ladder where the player is
without an opponent. The player then advances to the next
round without playing.
CANNON SHOT - when the striker ball drives one ball into
another ball, on a roquet or croquet shot.
CAROM SHOT - when the striker ball glances off a wicket,
stake, or other ball before hitting a ball.
CHERNOBYL - a defensive opening in which a ball is
held back and usually sets in front of wicket #1 to clear
-75-
on a later turn. More specifically, the Chernobyl Gambit is an
opening play where one ball (usually yellow) sets at wicket
#1 and the partner ball (red) shoots out on court north of
there, offering a tice to the opponent or a ball to play off
when the other clears its first hoop.
CLEAN - see CLEAR.
CLEAR (also CLEAN) - to become “alive” by running or
scoring a wicket, or be relieved of deadness under the 1-back
rule.
CLIPS - colored clips, one for each ball, which are placed on
wickets to show which ball is going for which wicket and in
what direction; clips on top indicate the first six wickets,
clips on the side indicate the second six wickets.
COLD BALL - see SPENT BALL.
CONDONE - failure of a player to claim a fault within the limit
of claims.
CONTINUATION BISQUE - in handicap play a shot taken as
an additional shot from where the striker ball stopped.
CONTINUATION SHOT - a shot earned by scoring a wicket
or the shot taken after a croquet shot.
CORNER FLAGS - flags or other devices that mark the corners
of a croquet court.
CORNER SHOT - shooting the striker ball into a corner of
the court.
-76-
CREATE A LEAVE (also GROOM THE COURT) - the
process of placing balls during a turn so as to leave the
partner ball a good playing opportunity and the opponent
a bad one.
CROQUET ASSOCIATION, THE - British croquet
governing body founded as the All England Croquet Club.
CROQUET ASSOCIATION, THE UNITED STATES American croquet governing body founded in New York
in 1976.
CROQUET OUT - see ROUT.
CROQUET SHOT - the first of two shots earned by the
striker for making a roquet.
CROQUETED BALL - what the roqueted ball becomes
when the striker takes the croquet shot.
CROSS WIRE - positioning the opponent’s balls on
opposite sides of a wicket or the stake, thus preventing
them from hitting each other.
CRUSH SHOT - a fault committed when, during the striking
period, the striker’s mallet is in contact with the striker ball
at the same time the ball is in contact with a wicket or the
stake and the striker is not swinging the mallet in a direction
away from the wicket or stake. Also referred to as a “threein-one” (mallet, ball, wicket) fault.
-77-
CUT RUSH - when a striker roquets a ball off-center to
make it, the “rushed ball,” travel at a desired angle to a
pre-selected position.
DANGER BALL (also HOT BALL) - the opponent’s next
ball to play.
DEADNESS - what a ball has after it roquets another
ball. It becomes “dead” on that ball and cannot roquet it
again until it scores a wicket to become “alive” or
becomes “alive” on it after clearing under the 1-back
rule.
DEADNESS BOARD - an adjustable device, with colors
to match the balls, designed to help players and
spectators keep track of deadness.
DOUBLE BANK - two separate games on the same court
at the same time. Striped balls (blue, red, black and yellow)
with white stripes, or second colored balls (green, pink,
brown and white), are used in the second game.
DOUBLE ELIMINATION - a tournament format in which
a player must lose twice to be eliminated.
DOUBLE TAP - a fault that is committed when, during
the striking period, the striker’s mallet hits the striker ball
twice.
DOUBLE - two balls at rest close enough together that
the target area for the striker ball is, in effect, doubled.
-78-
DRAW (also PULL or THROW) - on a croquet stroke,
the tendency (because of friction) of the croqueted ball
to deviate slightly toward the direction of momentum rather
than the direction of actual aim. Draw can be a critical factor
in precision shots such as stake-outs, peels, and loading
pioneer.
DRIVE SHOT - a croquet shot in which the mallet causes the
striker ball to travel about one-quarter to one-third the
distance of the croqueted ball.
ELIMINATION LADDER - tournament or play-off charts with
single, double, or triple elimination layouts.
FAULT - a rules violation subject to penalty.
FOOT (HAND) SHOT- when the striker places a foot or hand
on the striker ball to hold it in place during the striking period
of the croquet shot. Not permitted under USCA six-wicket
rules.
FORESTALL - to intervene to prevent a player from taking a
shot when not entitled to, or from playing out of turn.
GAME CLOCK - the clock used to monitor the time left in a
game.
GROOM THE COURT - see CREATE A LEAVE.
HAMPERED - when a wicket, stake, or other ball interferes
with a player’s normal swing.
-79-
HANDICAP - a number that represents a player’s playing
ability relative to all other players assigned a handicap in the
same system.
HANDICAP PLAY (also BISQUE PLAY) - a form of
competition in which handicap-based bisques are used to
equalize play between players of differing ability.
HOOP (see WICKET) - the international term for wicket
(“wickets” are used in cricket).
HOT BALL - see DANGER BALL
IN THE JAWS - when a ball at rest is breaking the plane of a wicket.
INNINGS - a term denoting control of the game by one side
as a result of having the balls positioned so that the side can
make an easy roquet and the opponent cannot.
IRISH PEEL - a croquet stroke in which both balls are sent
through a wicket.
JOIN UP - a ball plays to a spot near its partner ball.
JUMP SHOT - a shot in which the ball is struck so that it
leaves the ground, jumping over a ball, wicket, or stake.
LAY A BREAK - to position balls at wickets so they can be
used by the partner to run a break.
LEAVE - the positions of balls at rest after a player has groomed
the court and the turn has ended.
LEVEL PLAY - the form of competition with players competing
on equal terms and bisques are not used.
-80-
LIFT - to lift a ball that has become a ball in hand. Sometimes
the ball is not actually lifted but is trundled along with the
mallet.
LIMIT OF CLAIMS - the time during which a fault may be
called.
OUT OF BOUNDS - when a ball’s vertical axis has crossed
the boundary line.
PASS (also WAIVE) - to pass up a turn. The player is then
responsible for the ball’s position.
PEEL - when the striker ball causes another ball, either partner
or opponent, to score its wicket. Named for Walter H. Peel,
founder of the Croquet Association, who was partial to the
play.
PEG - see STAKE.
PEG OUT - see STAKE OUT.
PENULTIMATE - the next-to-last wicket.
PIONEER BALL - in a three-ball or four-ball break, a ball that
is positioned at the wicket following the one a player is
attempting to score.
PIVOT BALL - in a four-ball break, a ball that is usually
positioned near the middle of the court and is roqueted before
going to the pioneer ball.
POSITION SHOT - see APPROACH SHOT.
PULL - see DRAW.
-81-
PUSH - when the striker maintains contact between the
mallet and the ball for an appreciable time or accelerates the
mallet head while still in contact with the ball.
QUESTIONABLE SHOT - a play of doubtful legality or one
that has a large possibility of being a fault. A referee should
watch any questionable shot.
REFEREE - a person certified by the USCA to observe
questionable shots and resolve disputes between players.
REPLAY BISQUE - in handicap play a shot that is replayed.
ROLL SHOTS a)
HALF-ROLL, TWO-THIRDS ROLL AND THREEQUARTER ROLL SHOTS - croquet shots during which
the striker ball travels about that fraction of the distance
of the croqueted ball.
b) FULL-ROLL SHOTS - croquet shots during which the
striker ball travels about the same distance as the
croqueted ball.
c) PASS-ROLL SHOTS - croquet shots during which the
striker ball travels farther than the croqueted ball.
ROQUET - a shot in which the striker ball hits a ball it is
“alive on.”
ROTATION - the order in which each ball is played as
reflected in the descending colors on the center stake: blue,
red, black, and yellow.
-82-
ROUND ROBIN - see BLOCK PLAY.
ROUT - a play where the striker’s partner ball is sent out
of bounds next to the opponent’s spent ball, thus setting
the partner ball with an easy roquet. Technically, a rout
(an acronym of “rushing out”) is played on the rush or
roquet stroke, and striker remains alive on the routed ball.
However, the attack is usually played on the croquet stroke;
this is a “croquet out,” but it is still frequently called a
rout. The same play can be accomplished by sending the
opponent’s spent ball to partner.
ROVER - a ball that has scored all twelve wickets, but has
not yet hit the stake. The twelfth wicket is also called the
rover wicket.
RUSH - a roquet in which the striker attempts to send the
roqueted ball to a pre-selected position.
RUSH LINE - a line extending from a ball about to be
rushed, to its intended target spot. A player imagines the
rush line to assist in determining the point on which to
roquet the ball.
SCORE A WICKET - to pass through a wicket in the proper
order and direction so that when the ball comes to rest it
has cleared the plane of the playing side of the wicket.
SCRAMBLED DOUBLES - see WATERFORD DOUBLES.
SCRATCH PLAYER - a player with a zero handicap.
-83-
SHOT (also STROKE) - it begins when the striker’s mallet
contacts the ball and ends when all balls set in motion
by the striker have stopped rolling or have crossed a
boundary.
SHOT CLOCK - the clock used during a game to measure
the striker’s allowed 45 seconds to play each shot.
SIGHT LINE - a line set lengthwise on top of the mallet
head to aid a player in aiming the direction of the stroke.
SPENT BALL (also COLD BALL) - the opponent’s ball
that has just played and does not represent an immediate
threat during the opponent’s next turn.
SPLIT SHOT - a croquet shot that sends the striker ball
and the croqueted ball in different directions.
STAKE (also PEG) - the center stake in a six-wicket game.
STAKE OUT (also PEG OUT) - when a rover ball hits the
stake or is made to hit the stake by another rover ball.
STALK - to line up a shot by approaching the ball from
several feet behind, walking up along the direction of
aim. Most players consider stalking essential to
improved accuracy.
STOP SHOT - a croquet shot where the striker ball travels
about one fifth, or less, the distance of the croqueted
ball.
-84-
STRIKER - the player whose turn it is to play, or is playing,
or, in a few rules, the player whose turn has just ended.
STRIKING PERIOD - it begins at the start of the backswing,
with intent to strike the ball, and ends at the conclusion of
the follow through.
STROKE - see SHOT.
STYMIE - see BLOCK.
TAKE-OFF - a croquet shot, in which the striker ball makes
the croqueted ball move at almost a right angle to the
striker ball. A thin take-off moves the croqueted ball very
little, from a few inches to just shaking it, while a thick
take-off can make the croqueted ball move much farther.
THROW - see DRAW.
TICE - positioning a ball where the opponent is tempted
(enticed) to shoot at it, usually with great risk to the
opponent.
TIME LIMIT - for a game in USCA tournament play, usually
one and one-half hours, but may vary depending on the
number of courts and entrants; for an individual shot,
forty-five seconds.
TRIPLE PEEL - an all-around break in which another ball is
peeled through the last three wickets it is required to make
and then pegged out.
-85-
TURN - it starts when the previous player’s turn ends.
The player’s turn ends when the player commits a fault or
fails to earn a croquet or continuation shot.
WAIVE - see PASS.
WATERFORD DOUBLES (also ALTERNATING
DOUBLES or SCRAMBLED DOUBLES) - an increasingly
popular block-play format in which doubles players are
assigned a new partner each game. The final positions are
usually determined by each player’s win-loss record.
WICKET (also HOOP) - a device through which croquet balls
pass to score points. It is a straight-sided form with a flat or
curved top, twelve inches in height above the ground and
usually made of iron.
WIRED BALL - a ball obstructed from another ball, on which
it is alive, by a wicket, stake, or ball on which it is dead.
-86-
INDEX
14-point game ................ 69
1-back rule ..................... 35
Accidental movement .......
...................... See Balls
Advice ........................... 10
Aiming aids ................... 23
Alive ........... See Deadness
Appeals .............. 55, 57, 58
Ball ..................... See Balls
Balls
accidental movement ...
....................... 36, 39
at rest ........................ 26
blocked ..................... 40
cannoned .................. 34
cleaning .................... 24
colors ..........................4
in and out of the game
............................ 28
in hand ...................... 34
in motion ................... 64
interference ............... 49
last turn .................... 62
lifting/marking ...... 29, 63
markers ..................... 63
misplaced .................. 52
not in the game ......... 28
order of play ......... 4, 21
out of bounds ........... 36
out of bounds defined
............................ 36
placing ...................... 10
replacement .............. 37
replacement by
opponent ............. 39
responsible for position
............................ 39
rover ......................... 43
rover deadness ......... 44
specifications ............ 16
stake out ................... 43
striker ball ...................4
wired ......................... 41
wiring lift ................... 43
wrong ball ................. 48
Beveled edge .... See Mallet
Bisques
....... See Handicap play
Blocking wicket ............. 40
Break ...............................5
Changing mallets ........... 24
Check fence ................... 18
Clips ......................... 17, 20
misplaced .................. 20
placing ................. 10, 20
-87-
Clocks
game .................... 18, 60
shot ..................... 18, 60
Continuation bisque ...... 66
Continuation shot .......... 30
after roquet ................. 5
after wicket ................. 5
definition ....................5
Corner flags ................... 18
Court
accessories ............... 17
boundary “directions” .. 13
corners ...................... 13
damage ..................... 22
equipment ................. 14
etiquette ................... 65
modified .................... 14
presence on court ....... 8
setup ......................... 14
special damage .......... 23
standard ................... 13
Croquet shot ................. 33
definition ....................5
Crush ............................. 51
Dead ........... See Deadness
Deadness
alive ............................ 5
balls in and out of the
game .................... 28
board ........................ 17
clearing ..................... 26
dead ball faults .......... 48
definition .............. 5, 34
last dead ........ 26, 44, 45
on ball beyond
wicket .............. 27, 29
on ball in wicket ........ 27
rover ......................... 44
special relief (1-back) ... 35
Defensive tactics .............6
Double banking ............. 63
Double tap ..................... 50
Dress code ......................7
Equipment
balls .......................... 16
check fence ............... 18
clips .......................... 17
clocks ......... See Clocks
corner flags ............... 18
court accessories ...... 17
deadness board ........ 17
flags .......................... 18
mallet ........................ 16
wickets ...................... 14
-88-
Experimental rules .......... 70
Immediately in
the Game .............. 71
Faults
calling ....................... 10
crush ......................... 51
dead ball ................... 48
double tap ................ 50
interference with
a ball .................... 49
limit of claims ............ 53
mallet faults ............... 50
out of turn play ......... 45
penalties ................... 54
push ......................... 50
wrong ball ................. 48
Figures
Ball In and Out of
Bounds ................ 36
Balls Out of Bounds and
Position ................ 38
Blocking Ball
Examples .............. 40
Clip Placement ..... 17, 20
Court Layout, Order and
Direction of Play .. 19
Scoring a Wicket ....... 25
The Starting Area ...... 21
Wired Ball –
Examples .............. 42
Flags .............................. 18
Fourteen point game ...... 69
Game clock ...... See Clocks
Hampered ............See Shot
Handicap play
base method ............. 69
bisques ..................... 66
continuation bisque .. 66
doubles ..................... 67
half bisques .............. 67
point system ............. 72
replay bisque ............ 66
singles ...................... 68
How to play
6 wicket croquet ..........4
Incorrect information ..... 53
Interference
between games ......... 64
time-outs ................... 65
with a ball ................. 49
Intervention ................... 56
Jump shot ............See Shot
Last turn ........................ 62
Lifting/marking balls
double banking ......... 63
in and out of the game .
............................ 29
-89-
Limit of claims ................ 53
Making a break ................ 5
Mallet
beveled edge . 16, 24, 50
changing ................... 24
faults ......................... 50
specifications ............ 16
use ............................ 24
Match time .................... 61
Misplaced balls ............. 52
Misplaced clip ............... 20
Missing player ............... 62
Object of the game ......... 19
Offensive tactics ..............5
On the court ....................8
Order of play .............. 4, 21
Out of bounds .... See Balls
Out of turn play ............. 45
Pass ............................... 22
Penalties ........................ 54
Presence on court ............ 8
Push .............................. 50
Questionable shot ......... 11
Referee
appeals ................ 55, 58
calling ....................... 12
certified ..................... 11
intervention .............. 56
not available ............. 58
resetting equipment .. 57
role ........................... 55
Replay bisque ................ 66
Responsible for position 39
Roquet shot ................... 31
after wicket ............... 32
definition ....................5
Rover .................. See Balls
Rules
Aiming Aids ............. 23
Appeals .................... 58
Ball at Rest ................ 26
Ball Cannoned .......... 34
Ball in Hand .............. 34
Ball Not In the Game . 28
Ball Out of Bounds ... 36
Ball Replacement ....... 37
Balls In and Out of the
Game .................... 28
Base Method
Handicap Play ...... 69
Beginning the Wicket 26
Bisques ..................... 66
Blocking Wicket ........ 40
Cleaning Ball ............. 24
Clearing Deadness by
Running a Wicket . 26
Clips ......................... 20
Continuation Shots ... 30
-90-
Limit of Claims .......... 53
Mallet Faults ............. 50
Mallet Use ................ 24
Marking Balls ............ 63
Match Time .............. 61
Misplaced Balls ........ 52
Missing Player .......... 62
Opponent Replacing
Ball ...................... 39
Order of Play and
Starting Area ........ 20
Out of Bounds Defined
............................ 36
Out of Turn Play ....... 45
Penalties ................... 54
Referee Not Available ...
............................ 58
Referee’s Role ........... 55
Resetting Equipment . 57
Responsible for Position
39
Roquet Shots ............ 31
Rover ........................ 43
Rover Deadness ....... 44
Scoring a Wicket ....... 25
Scoring Wicket and
Hitting a Ball In the
Game .................... 29
Court Damage ........... 22
Court Etiquette .......... 65
Croquet Shots ........... 33
Dead Ball Faults ........ 48
Dead on Ball Beyond
Wicket .................. 27
Dead on Ball in Wicket .
............................ 27
Deadness .................. 34
Deadness Between Balls
In and Out of the
Game .................... 28
Doubles .................... 67
Fourteen Point Game . 69
Half Bisques ............. 67
Immediately in the Game
(experimental) ....... 71
Incorrect Information 53
Interference Between
Games .................. 64
Interference
Time-Outs ............ 65
Interference
with a Ball ............ 49
Intervention .............. 56
Last Turn .................. 62
Lifting Balls In and
Out of the Game ... 29
-91-
Shot and Game Clocks .
............................ 60
Singles ...................... 68
Special Relief from
Deadness ............. 35
Stake Out .................. 43
Start .......................... 19
Striking Period and Shot
24
The Turn ................... 22
Time Limits ............... 59
Time-Outs ................. 61
Tournament Director . 54
Wicket and Roquet ... 32
Wicket in the Wrong
Direction .............. 27
Winning .................... 45
Wired Ball ................. 41
Wiring Lift ................ 43
Wrong Ball Faults ..... 48
Shortened game ............. 69
Shot
begins ....................... 25
clock ........... See Clocks
continuation ......... 5, 30
croquet ................. 5, 33
ends ......................... 25
hampered ....... 24, 41, 50
jump .................... 27, 40
questionable ............. 11
roquet ................... 5, 31
Special damage .............. 23
Special relief from deadness
35
Spectators ....................... 9
Sportsmanship ................. 7
Stake out ....................... 43
Starting area ................... 21
Striker .............................. 4
Striker ball ........................ 4
Striking period ............... 24
Stroke .................. See Shot
stymie ...............................
..... See Blocking wicket
Tactics
defensive ....................6
offensive ..................... 5
Time
interference time-outs ..
............................ 65
limits ......................... 59
match ........................ 61
outs .......................... 61
Tournament director ...... 54
Turn
begins ....................... 22
ends ......................... 22
last ............................ 62
-92-
pass .......................... 22
Waive ..................See Pass
White apparel ..................7
Wickets ......................... 14
beginning to score .... 26
blocking .................... 40
non-playing side ....... 25
playing side .............. 25
Winning ......................... 45
Wiring ................. See Balls
Wrong ball ..................... 48
-93-
NOTES
-94-
NOTES
-95-
NOTES
-96-
NOTES
-97-
NOTES
-98-
BENEFITS OF MEMBERSHIP TO THE USCA
• Personalized official USCA
MEMBERSHIP CARD
• Official USCA RULEBOOK (pocket size)
• USCA CROQUET NEWS – quarterly
magazine containing club information and
news, handicap updates, tournament
schedules and results, International and
Collegiate news, shotmaking techniques,
and USCA Instructional School information
• USCA DIRECTORY – detailed directory of
USCA clubs, members, facts, tournament
results, and other pertinent data
• Assignment of an official USCA
HANDICAP
• Eligibility to play in titled USCA
tournaments
• Inclusion in USCA GRAND PRIX
RANKING SYSTEM through USCA
sanctioned tournaments
• Discounts on USCA INSTRUCTIONAL
SCHOOL tuition and select USCA
MERCHANDISE
• Eligibility for CERTIFICATION as an
official Referee and Instructor
• Car rental discounts with ALAMO Rental
Cars
• USCA Club renewal certificate
• Access to other USCA club and member
addresses and phone numbers
• And more !!
-99-
Croquet Shot-Making Manual
by Bob Kroeger
Paperback ……... $15.95
A Guide to Croquet Court
Planning, Building &
Maintenance
by Dr Carleton H Mabee
Paperback ……... $45.00
CROQUET/ The Sport
by Jack R. Osborn
Hardcover ……... $24.95
Paperback ……... $15.95
It’s a Wicket Kitchen by
Anne Bassette
Paperback ……... $12.00
-100-
Croquet
by John W. Solomon
Paperback ……... $20.00
USCA Logo Apparel
Shirts……... $40.00
Hats………. $20.00
USCA Rulebook
Paperback ……... $5.00
International Rulebook
Paperback ……... $12.00
-101-
EVERY CLUB SHOULD HAVE A COMPLETE SET
Croquet Foundation of America’s Monograph series on ClubBuilding, Organization and Management
Bob Alman, Editor and Chief Writer
Volume 1: Getting Started
Volume 2: Organizing for Success
Volume 3: Producing programs and Events That Work
Individual Volumes ...................................................... $ 9.95
Three Volume Set ....................................................... $25.00
USCA VIDEOS
The Sport of Croquet
Serious Sport, Serious Fun ......................................... FREE
Bob & Ted’s Instructional Videos*, CDs, & Books:
Excellent Croquet Video ............................................. $49.95
Most Wanted Video ................................................... $64.95
Staying Alive – Winning Croquet Tactics* ............... $ 39.95
You Make the Call – Making the Best Play* ............ $29.95
2 Pack: Excellent & Most Wanted ............................. $99.95
3 Pack: Excellent, Most, & Staying Alive ................ $140.95
4 Pack: All four videos ............................................. $170.00
Beginner/Intermediate CD Book ................................ $29.95
Advanced CD Book ................................................... $29.95
Both CD Books ......................................................... $39.95
Printed books from CD ............................... $49.95-$124.95
* Available in DVD and VHS
Shipping and handling charges apply based on
weight and destination. To order contact the USCA,
561-478-0760.
-102-
ARE THE RULES
CONFUSING
YOU?
LET BOB AND TED
EXPLAIN THEM
CLEARLY IN AN
AUDIO CD
CONTACT THE USCA
FOR INFORMATION
ON ORDERING
561-478-0760
OR
EMAIL: [email protected]
-103-
WHAT IS THE JACK OSBORN SOCIETY?
IT IS A GROUP OF CROQUET PLAYERS WHO
HAVE REMEMBERED THE FOUNDATION’S
ENDOWMENT FUND IN THEIR WILL. IT HELPS
TO EXPAND THE SPORT AND PROVIDE FUTURE
SUPPORT. ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS NOTIFY US
THAT YOU HAVE ADDED THE CROQUET
FOUNDATION TO YOUR WILL AND WE WILL
SEND YOU A MONOGRAMMED GEAR BAG.
CROQUET HAS BEEN GOOD TO YOU
LEAVE SOMETHING TO THE GAME
561-478-0709
-104-
-105-
-106-
The Vision...
To foster the growth and enjoyment
of the sport of croquet.
The Mission...
To encourage the enjoyment,
promote the development,
and govern the sport of croquet
The REALITY
The USCA
For more information
about the USCA, please contact:
UNITED STATES
CROQUET ASSOCIATION
700 Florida Mango Road
West Palm Beach, FL 33406
www.croquetamerica.com
561-753-9141
[email protected]